This bill revises the credentialing process for physicians seeking to join health insurance carriers' provider networks, enhancing transparency and efficiency. It mandates that a carrier's committee must notify applicants within 30 days if their application is incomplete, and if no notification is given, the application will be considered complete. Additionally, carriers are required to publish the universal participation and renewal forms on their websites, along with a detailed explanation of the credentialing process and necessary documentation. The bill also stipulates that physicians providing services while awaiting credential approval must be reimbursed for those services from the date their application was filed.

Furthermore, the bill prohibits carriers from requiring already credentialed physicians to submit new applications solely due to a change in their employer or healthcare facility. It empowers the Department of Banking and Insurance to handle complaints regarding violations of the credentialing process, including the establishment of a system for receiving and investigating such complaints. The bill establishes civil penalties for carriers that violate credentialing provisions, ensuring that enforcement is centralized within the department.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 26:2S-7, 26:2S-7.2