39-71-1105. Managed care organizations -- application -- certification. (1) A health care provider, a group of medical service providers, or an entity with a managed care organization may make written application to the department to become certified under this section to provide managed care to injured workers for injuries that are covered under this chapter or for occupational diseases that are covered under the Occupational Disease Act of Montana. However, this section does not authorize an organization that is formed, owned, or operated by a workers' compensation insurer or self-insured employer other than a health care provider to become certified to provide managed care. When a health care provider, a group of medical service providers, or an entity with a managed care organization is establishing a managed care organization and independent physical therapy practices exist in the community, the managed care organization is encouraged to utilize independent physical therapists as part of the managed care organization if the independent physical therapists agree to abide by all the applicable requirements for a managed care organization set forth in this section, in rules established by the department, and in the provisions of a managed care plan for which certification is being sought.
     (2) Each application for certification must be accompanied by an application fee if prescribed by the department. A certificate is valid for the period prescribed by the department, unless it is revoked or suspended at an earlier date.
     (3) The department shall establish by rule the form for the application for certification and the required information regarding the proposed plan for providing medical services. The information includes but is not limited to:
     (a) a list of names of each individual who will provide services under the managed care plan, together with appropriate evidence of compliance with any licensing or certification requirements for that individual to practice in the state;
     (b) names of the individuals who will be designated as treating physicians and who will be responsible for the coordination of medical services;
     (c) a description of the times, places, and manner of providing primary medical services under the plan;
     (d) a description of the times, places, and manner of providing secondary medical services, if any, that the applicants wish to provide; and
     (e) satisfactory evidence of the ability to comply with any financial requirements to ensure delivery of service in accordance with the plan that the department may require.
     (4) The department shall certify a group of medical service providers or an entity with a managed care organization to provide managed care under a plan if the department finds that the plan:
     (a) proposes to provide coordination of services that meet quality, continuity, and other treatment standards prescribed by the department and will provide all primary medical services that may be required by this chapter in a manner that is timely and effective for the worker;
     (b) provides appropriate financial incentives to reduce service costs and utilization without sacrificing the quality of services;
     (c) provides adequate methods of peer review and service utilization review to prevent excessive or inappropriate treatment, to exclude from participation in the plan those individuals who violate these treatment standards, and to provide for the resolution of any medical disputes that may arise;
     (d) provides for cooperative efforts by the worker, the employer, the rehabilitation providers, and the managed care organization to promote an early return to work for the injured worker;
     (e) provides a timely and accurate method of reporting to the department necessary information regarding medical and health care service cost and utilization to enable the department to determine the effectiveness of the plan;
     (f) authorizes workers to receive medical treatment from a primary care physician who is not a member of the managed care organization but who maintains the worker's medical records and with whom the worker has a documented history of treatment, if that primary care physician agrees to refer the worker to the managed care organization for any specialized treatment, including physical therapy, that the worker may require and if that primary care physician agrees to comply with all the rules, terms, and conditions regarding services performed by the managed care organization. As used in this subsection (f), "primary care physician" means a physician who is qualified to be a treating physician and who is a family practitioner, a general practitioner, an internal medicine practitioner, or a chiropractor.
     (g) complies with any other requirements determined by department rule to be necessary to provide quality medical services and health care to injured workers.
     (5) The department shall refuse to certify or may revoke or suspend the certification of a health care provider, a group of medical service providers, or an entity with a managed care organization to provide managed care if the department finds that:
     (a) the plan for providing medical care services fails to meet the requirements of this section; and
     (b) service under the plan is not being provided in accordance with the terms of a certified plan.

     History: En. Sec. 9, Ch. 628, L. 1993.