Nevada Revised Statutes 695C.310 – Examinations by Commissioner: Affairs of and compliance program used by health maintenance organization; submission of books and records; assessment of expenses; exception
1. The Commissioner shall make an examination of the affairs of any health maintenance organization and providers with whom such organization has contracts, agreements or other arrangements pursuant to its health care plan as often as the Commissioner deems it necessary for the protection of the interests of the people of this State, but not less frequently than once every 3 years.
Terms Used In Nevada Revised Statutes 695C.310
- Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
- Health care plan: means any arrangement whereby any person undertakes to provide, arrange for, pay for or reimburse any part of the cost of any health care services and at least part of the arrangement consists of arranging for or the provision of health care services paid for by or on behalf of the enrollee on a periodic prepaid basis. See Nevada Revised Statutes 695C.030
- Health maintenance organization: means any person which provides or arranges for provision of a health care service or services and is responsible for the availability and accessibility of such service or services to its enrollees, which services are paid for or on behalf of the enrollees on a periodic prepaid basis without regard to the dates health services are rendered and without regard to the extent of services actually furnished to the enrollees, except that supplementing the fixed prepayments by nominal additional payments for services in accordance with regulations adopted by the Commissioner shall not be deemed to render the arrangement not to be on a prepaid basis. See Nevada Revised Statutes 695C.030
- Provider: means any physician, hospital or other person who is licensed or otherwise authorized in this state to furnish health care services. See Nevada Revised Statutes 695C.030
- Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
2. The Commissioner shall make an examination concerning any compliance program used by a health maintenance organization and any report, as determined to be appropriate by the Commissioner, regarding the health maintenance organization produced by an organization which examines best practices in the insurance industry. The Commissioner shall make such an examination as often as the Commissioner deems it necessary for the protection of the interests of the people of this State, but not less frequently than once every 3 years.
3. In making an examination pursuant to subsection 1 or 2, the Commissioner:
(a) Shall determine whether the health maintenance organization is in compliance with this Code, including, without limitation, whether any relationship or transaction between the health maintenance organization and any other health maintenance organization is in compliance with this Code; and
(b) May examine any account, record, document or transaction of any health maintenance organization or any provider which relates to:
(1) Compliance with this Code by the health maintenance organization which is the subject of the examination;
(2) Any relationship or transaction between the health maintenance organization which is the subject of the examination and any other health maintenance organization; or
(3) Any relationship or transaction between the health maintenance organization which is the subject of the examination and any provider.
4. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, for the purposes of an examination pursuant to subsection 1 or 2, each health maintenance organization and provider shall, upon the request of the Commissioner or an examiner designated by the Commissioner, submit its books and records relating to any applicable health care plan to the Commissioner or the examiner, as applicable. Medical records of natural persons and records of physicians providing service pursuant to a contract with a health maintenance organization are not subject to such examination, although the records, except privileged medical information, are subject to subpoena upon a showing of good cause. For the purpose of examinations, the Commissioner may administer oaths to and examine the officers and agents of a health maintenance organization and the principals of providers concerning their business.
5. The expenses of examinations pursuant to this section must be assessed, billed and paid in accordance with the provisions of NRS 679B.290.
6. In lieu of an examination pursuant to this section, the Commissioner may accept the report of an examination made by the insurance commissioner of another state or an applicable regulatory agency of another state.