Sec. 5. (a) An enrollee or a subscriber may file a grievance orally or in writing.

     (b) A health maintenance organization shall make available to enrollees and subscribers a toll free telephone number through which grievances may be filed. The toll free number must:

(1) be staffed by a qualified representative of the health maintenance organization;

(2) be available for at least forty (40) normal business hours per week; and

(3) accept grievances in the languages of the major population groups served.

     (c) A grievance is considered to be filed on the first date it is received, either by telephone or in writing.

As added by P.L.191-1997, SEC.7.