(a)(1) The commissioner shall approve independent review organizations eligible to be assigned to conduct external reviews and expedited external reviews under section 38a-591g.

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(2) The commissioner shall (A) develop an application form for the initial approval and for the reapproval of independent review organizations, and (B) maintain and periodically update a list of approved independent review organizations.

(b) (1) Any independent review organization seeking to conduct external reviews and expedited external reviews under section 38a-591g shall submit the application form for approval or reapproval, as applicable, to the commissioner and shall include all documentation and information necessary for the commissioner to determine if the independent review organization satisfies the minimum qualifications established under this section.

(2) An approval or reapproval shall be effective for two years, unless the commissioner determines before the expiration of such approval or reapproval that the independent review organization no longer satisfies the minimum qualifications established under this section.

(3) Whenever the commissioner determines that an independent review organization has lost its accreditation or no longer satisfies the minimum requirements established under this section, the commissioner shall terminate the approval of the independent review organization and remove the independent review organization from the list of approved independent review organizations specified in subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section.

(c) To be eligible for approval by the commissioner, an independent review organization shall:

(1) Have and maintain written policies and procedures that govern all aspects of both the standard external review process and the expedited external review process set forth in section 38a-591g that include, at a minimum:

(A) A quality assurance mechanism in place that ensures:

(i) That external reviews and expedited external reviews are conducted within the specified time frames and required notices are provided in a timely manner;

(ii) (I) The selection of qualified and impartial clinical peers to conduct such reviews on behalf of the independent review organization and the suitable matching of such peers to specific cases, and (II) the employment of or the contracting with an adequate number of clinical peers to meet this objective;

(iii) The confidentiality of medical and treatment records and clinical review criteria;

(iv) That any person employed by or under contract with the independent review organization adheres to the requirements of section 38a-591g; and

(B) A toll-free telephone number to receive information twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, related to external reviews and expedited external reviews and that is capable of accepting, recording or providing appropriate instruction to incoming telephone callers during other than normal business hours;

(2) Agree to maintain and provide to the commissioner the information set forth in section 38a-591m;

(3) Not own or control, be a subsidiary of, be owned or controlled in any way by, or exercise control with a health benefit plan, a national, state or local trade association of health benefit plans, or a national, state or local trade association of health care professionals; and

(4) Assign as a clinical peer a health care professional who meets the following minimum qualifications:

(A) Is an expert in the treatment of the covered person’s medical condition that is the subject of the review;

(B) Is knowledgeable about the recommended health care service or treatment through recent or current actual clinical experience treating patients with the same or similar medical condition of the covered person;

(C) Holds a nonrestricted license in a state of the United States and, for physicians, a current certification by a recognized American medical specialty board in the area or areas appropriate to the subject of the review; and

(D) Has no history of disciplinary actions or sanctions, including loss of staff privileges or participation restrictions, that have been taken or are pending by any hospital, governmental agency or unit or regulatory body that raise a substantial question as to the clinical peer’s physical, mental or professional competence or moral character.

(d) (1) An independent review organization that is accredited by a nationally recognized private accrediting entity that has independent review accreditation standards that the commissioner has determined are equivalent to or exceed the minimum qualifications of this section shall be presumed to be in compliance with this section.

(2) The commissioner shall initially review and periodically review the independent review organization accreditation standards of a nationally recognized private accrediting entity to determine whether such entity’s standards are, and continue to be, equivalent to or exceed the minimum qualifications established under this section. The commissioner may accept a review conducted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners for the purpose of the determination under this subdivision.

(3) Upon request, a nationally recognized private accrediting entity shall make its current independent review organization accreditation standards available to the commissioner or the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in order for the commissioner to determine if such entity’s standards are equivalent to or exceed the minimum qualifications established under this section. The commissioner may exclude any private accrediting entity that is not reviewed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.