1. (a) Subject to subsection (b) and IC 12-16-6.5-1.7 , if the division is unable after prompt and diligent efforts to determine that a health care item or service identified in a claim:

   1. (1) was necessitated by one (1) or more of the medical conditions listed in IC 12-16-3.5-1 (a)(1) through IC 12-16-3.5-1 (a)(3) or IC 12-16-3.5-2 (a)(1) through IC 12-16-3.5-2 (a)(3); or

   2. (2) was a direct consequence of one (1) or more of the medical conditions listed in IC 12-16-3.5-1 (a)(1) through IC 12-16-3.5-1 (a)(3);

      the division may deny assistance to the person under the hospital care for the indigent program for that item or service. The pending expiration of the period specified in IC 12-16-6.5-1.7 is not a valid reason for determining that an item or a service was not necessitated by one (1) or more of the medical conditions listed in IC 12-16-3.5-1 (a)(1) through IC 12-16-3.5-1 (a)(3) or IC 12-16-3.5-2 (a)(1) through IC 12-16-3.5-2 (a)(3), or was not a direct consequence of one (1) or more of the medical conditions listed in IC 12-16-3.5-1 (a)(1) through IC 12-16-3.5-1 (a)(3).

2. (b) Before denying assistance under the hospital care for the indigent program for an item or a service described in subsection (a), the division must provide the provider of the item or service written notice of:

   1. (1) the specific item or service in question; and

   2. (2) an explanation of the basis for the division's inability to determine that the health care item or service was:

      1. (A) necessitated by one (1) or more of the medical conditions listed in IC 12-16-3.5-1 (a)(1) through IC 12-16-3.5-1 (a)(3) or IC 12-16-3.5-2 (a)(1) through IC 12-16-3.5-2 (a)(3); or

      2. (B) a direct consequence of one (1) or more of the medical conditions listed in IC 12-16-3.5-1 (a)(1) through IC 12-16-3.5-1 (a)(3);

         including, if applicable, an explanation of the basis for a conclusion by the division that an item or service, in fact, was not necessitated by, or, as applicable, not a direct consequence of, one

      3. (1) or more of such medical conditions.
3. (c) The division must grant the provider of the item or service a period of time, not less than ten (10) days beyond the deadline under IC 12-16-6.5-1.7 , to submit to the division information or materials bearing on whether the item or service was necessitated by one (1) or more of the medical conditions listed in IC 12-16-3.5-1 (a)(1) through IC 12-16-3.5-1 (a)(3) or IC 12-16-3.5-2 (a)(1) through IC 12-16-3.5-2 (a)(3), or was a direct consequence of one (1) or more of the medical conditions listed in IC 12-16-3.5-1 (a)(1) through IC 12-16-3.5-1 (a)(3). If the division does not make its determination regarding the item or service within ten (10) days after receiving information or materials provided for in this section, the item or service is considered, without the division's determination, to have been necessitated by one (1) or more of the medical conditions listed in IC 12-16-3.5-1 (a)(1) through IC 12-16-3.5-1 (a)(3) or IC 12-16-3.5-2 (a)(1) through IC 12-16-3.5-2 (a)(3), or to have been a direct consequence of one (1) or more of the medical conditions listed in IC 12-16-3.5-1 (a)(1) through IC 12-16-3.5-1 (a)(3).

As added by P.L.145-2005, SEC.16.