Section 12923.5 Of Article 1. Generally From California Insurance Code >> Division 3. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 1.
12923.5
. (a) The Department of Managed Health Care and the
Department of Insurance shall maintain a joint senior level working
group to ensure clarity for health care consumers about who enforces
their patient rights and consistency in the regulations of these
departments.
(b) The joint working group shall undertake a review and
examination of the Health and Safety Code, the Insurance Code, and
the Welfare and Institutions Code as they apply to the Department of
Managed Health Care and the Department of Insurance to ensure
consistency in consumer protection.
(c) The joint working group shall review and examine all of the
following processes in each department:
(1) Grievance and consumer complaint processes, including, but not
limited to, outreach, standard complaints, including coverage and
medical necessity complaints, independent medical review, and
information developed for consumer use.
(2) The processes used to ensure enforcement of the law,
including, but not limited to, the medical survey and audit process
in the Health and Safety Code and market conduct exams in the
Insurance Code.
(3) The processes for regulating the timely payment of claims.
(d) The joint working group shall report its findings to the
Insurance Commissioner and the Director of the Department of Managed
Health Care for review and approval. The commissioner and the
director shall submit the approved final report under signature to
the Legislature by January 1 of every year for five years.