A carrier shall comply with the standard prior authorization processes specified in these rules.

1. A. Responsibility for requesting prior authorization.

   1. (1) A carrier shall accept a prior authorization request submitted by a provider or by a covered person.
   2. (2) If a covered person directly submits, or attempts to submit, a prior authorization request, the carrier shall provide the covered person all assistance required to properly submit the request, including assistance with obtaining required documentation and information to meet clinical guidelines.
   3. (3) A carrier shall prohibit its participating providers from billing a covered person for a delivered benefit for which prior authorization was required if the provider failed to obtain the required authorization without the covered person’s informed and documented consent.
2. (4) A carrier shall allow non-participating providers to:

3. (a) request prior authorizations and submit supporting documentation by all submission methods authorized by these rules; and

   1. (b) receive confirmations and tracking numbers as required by these rules.

4. B. Requests for multiple benefits.

   1. (1) A carrier shall allow a provider to submit a single request for multiple benefits that will be delivered contemporaneously to the same covered person.
   2. (2) If a carrier does not grant prior authorization for all of the benefits in a multiple benefit request, the carrier must clearly state which benefits are approved and which are denied.
   3. (3) A carrier shall permit a provider or covered person to appeal the denial of any benefits regardless of the number of benefits requested at one time.

5. C. Changes to prior authorization requirements.

   1. (1) After inception of coverage, a carrier shall not expand the list of benefits for which prior authorization is required except when a new covered benefit is added to the plan, when safety or other concerns have arisen with respect to the benefit, when authorized by a state or federal regulatory agency, or as indicated by changes in nationally recognized clinical guidance.
   2. (2) After inception of coverage, a carrier shall notify its network providers before adding a prior authorization requirement.
   3. (3) A carrier may remove a prior authorization requirement at any time. A carrier who removes a prior authorization requirement during a plan year shall notify its network providers of the change as soon as practicable, and no more than 60 days after the requirement is removed.
6. D. Retroactive denials. A carrier shall not retroactively deny authorization if a provider relied upon a written prior authorization from the carrier received prior to providing the benefit, except in those cases where there was material misrepresentation or fraud by the provider.
7. E. Retrospective Authorization Requests. A carrier shall establish written policies and guidance for the process and circumstances under which it will consider a retrospective authorization. A carrier’s policies shall not unreasonably limit the ability of a provider to request or obtain a retrospective authorization.
8. F. Mental health parity. A carrier shall not apply more restrictive prior authorization requirements for covered behavioral health services than for covered medical and surgical services.
9. G. Expiration of prior authorization. A carrier’s prior authorization shall expire no sooner than 60 days from the date of approval unless an earlier expiration is warranted by the clinical criteria. A carrier shall allow a request for the extension of an authorization as supported by the clinical criteria.
10. H. Reasonable prior authorization requirements. A carrier shall not impose a prior authorization requirement that deters or unreasonably delays the delivery of medically necessary and covered benefits warranted by prevailing standards of care. A carrier shall only require prior authorization for a benefit to the extent reasonably necessary to contain inappropriate or unnecessary costs or implement demonstrably effective medical management services.

[13.10.31.8 NMAC - N, 01/01/2022]