2006 Michigan Compiled Laws - Mich. Comp. Laws § 500.2213 Internal formal grievance procedure; approval by commissioner; contents; person authorized to act on behalf of insured or enrollee; section inapplicable to provider complaint and insurance listed in right to independent review act; definitions.

Sec. 2213.

(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (4), each insurer and health maintenance organization shall establish an internal formal grievance procedure for approval by the commissioner for persons covered under a policy, certificate, or contract issued under chapter 34, 35, or 36 that includes all of the following:

(a) Provides for a designated person responsible for administering the grievance system.

(b) Provides a designated person or telephone number for receiving complaints.

(c) Ensures full investigation of a complaint.

(d) Provides for timely notification in plain English to the insured or enrollee as to the progress of an investigation.

(e) Provides an insured or enrollee the right to appear before the board of directors or designated committee or the right to a managerial-level conference to present a grievance.

(f) Provides for notification in plain English to the insured or enrollee of the results of the insurer's or health maintenance organization's investigation and for advisement of the insured's or enrollee's right to review the grievance by the commissioner or by an independent review organization under the patient's right to independent review act, 2000 PA 251, MCL 550.1901 to 550.1929.

(g) Provides summary data on the number and types of complaints and grievances filed. Beginning April 15, 2001, this summary data for the prior calendar year shall be filed annually with the commissioner on forms provided by the commissioner.

(h) Provides for periodic management and governing body review of the data to assure that appropriate actions have been taken.

(i) Provides for copies of all complaints and responses to be available at the principal office of the insurer or health maintenance organization for inspection by the commissioner for 2 years following the year the complaint was filed.

(j) That when an adverse determination is made, a written statement in plain English containing the reasons for the adverse determination is provided to the insured or enrollee along with written notifications as required under the patient's right to independent review act, 2000 PA 251, MCL 550.1901 to 550.1929.

(k) That a final determination will be made in writing by the insurer or health maintenance organization not later than 35 calendar days after a formal grievance is submitted in writing by the insured or enrollee. The timing for the 35-calendar-day period may be tolled, however, for any period of time the insured or enrollee is permitted to take under the grievance procedure and for a period of time that shall not exceed 10 business days if the insurer or health maintenance organization has not received requested information from a health care facility or health professional.

(l) That a determination will be made by the insurer or health maintenance organization not later than 72 hours after receipt of an expedited grievance. Within 10 days after receipt of a determination, the insured or enrollee may request a determination of the matter by the commissioner or his or her designee or by an independent review organization under the patient's right to independent review act, 2000 PA 251, MCL 550.1901 to 550.1929. If the determination by the insurer or health maintenance organization is made orally, the insurer or health maintenance organization shall provide a written confirmation of the determination to the insured or enrollee not later than 2 business days after the oral determination. An expedited grievance under this subdivision applies if a grievance is submitted and a physician, orally or in writing, substantiates that the time frame for a grievance under subdivision (k) would seriously jeopardize the life or health of the insured or enrollee or would jeopardize the insured's or enrollee's ability to regain maximum function.

(m) That the insured or enrollee has the right to a determination of the matter by the commissioner or his or her designee or by an independent review organization under the patient's right to independent review act, 2000 PA 251, MCL 550.1901 to 550.1929.

(2) An insured or enrollee may authorize in writing any person, including, but not limited to, a physician, to act on his or her behalf at any stage in a grievance proceeding under this section.

(3) This section does not apply to a provider's complaint concerning claims payment, handling, or reimbursement for health care services.

(4) This section does not apply to a policy, certificate, care, coverage, or insurance listed in section 5(2) of the patient's right to independent review act, 2000 PA 251, MCL 550.1905, as not being subject to the patient's right to independent review act, 2000 PA 251, MCL 550.1901 to 550.1929.

(5) As used in this section:

(a) "Adverse determination" means a determination that an admission, availability of care, continued stay, or other health care service has been reviewed and denied, reduced, or terminated. Failure to respond in a timely manner to a request for a determination constitutes an adverse determination.

(b) "Grievance" means a complaint on behalf of an insured or enrollee submitted by an insured or enrollee concerning any of the following:

(i) The availability, delivery, or quality of health care services, including a complaint regarding an adverse determination made pursuant to utilization review.

(ii) Benefits or claims payment, handling, or reimbursement for health care services.

(iii) Matters pertaining to the contractual relationship between an insured or enrollee and the insurer or health maintenance organization.

History: Add. 1996, Act 517, Eff. Oct. 1, 1997 ;-- Am. 2000, Act 252, Imd. Eff. June 29, 2000 ;-- Am. 2002, Act 707, Imd. Eff. Dec. 30, 2002
Popular Name: Act 218