a. Health care services available under health benefits plans must be promptly provided to covered persons under all circumstances, along with timely reimbursement to hospitals and physicians for their services rendered;

b. However, confusion still exists among consumers, hospitals, physicians and carriers with respect to time frames for communication of determinations by carriers to deny, reduce or terminate benefits under the provisions of a health benefits plan based upon utilization management decisions;

c. Since it is the declared public policy of the State that hospital and related health care services be of the highest quality and demonstrated need and be efficiently provided and properly utilized at a reasonable cost, the hospital care and related health care services must be appropriate to the condition of the patient and payment must be for services that were rendered to the patient;

d. Because it is fair and reasonable for hospitals and physicians to receive reimbursement for health care services delivered to covered persons under their health benefits plans and inefficiencies in any area of the health care delivery system reflect poorly on all aspects of the health care delivery system, and because those inefficiencies can harm the consumers of health care, it is appropriate for the Legislature now to establish uniform procedures and guidelines for hospitals, physicians and health insurance carriers to follow in communicating and following utilization management decisions and determinations on behalf of consumers.

L.2005,c.352,s.2.