33-36-301. Quality assurance -- national accreditation. (1) A health carrier whose managed care plan has been accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting organization shall annually provide a copy of the accreditation and the accrediting standards used by the accrediting organization to the department.
     (2) If the department finds that the standards of a nationally recognized accrediting organization meet or exceed state standards and that the health carrier has been accredited by the nationally recognized accrediting organization, the department shall approve the quality assurance standards of the health carrier.
     (3) The department shall maintain a list of accrediting organizations whose standards have been determined by the department to meet or exceed state quality assurance standards.
     (4) Section 33-36-302 does not apply to a health carrier's managed care plan if the health carrier maintains current accreditation by a nationally recognized accrediting organization whose standards meet or exceed state quality assurance standards adopted pursuant to this part.
     (5) This section does not prevent the department from monitoring a health carrier's compliance with this part.

     History: En. Sec. 23, Ch. 413, L. 1997.