N.M. Admin. Code § 13.10.31.9 - PRIOR AUTHORIZATION SUBMISSION

A. A carrier shall:

(1) accept prior authorization requests submitted at any time prior to the delivery of service;

(2) accept prior authorization requests telephonically and by facsimile;

(3) offer at least one bi-directional electronic prior authorization portal;

(4) allow a provider to upload in a secure manner the supporting documentation associated with an electronic prior authorization request, subject to reasonable limits on file type and size;

(5) accept and consider any information from a provider that will assist in the review;

(6) require only the information necessary to evaluate the request;

(7) not reject a request solely on the basis of documentation or submission errors that do not prevent substantive review;

(8) ensure that the system it operates for receiving electronic prior authorization requests and supporting documentation satisfies all applicable Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act ("HIPAA") transaction requirements and operating rules no later than the effective date that such requirements and rules are established;

(9) make its system available for accepting electronic prior authorization requests and supporting documentation 24-hours per day, seven-days per week. Planned maintenance or down time of the system shall be performed during historically low-utilization periods; and

(10) notify providers of planned maintenance or downtime of the system at least 24-hours in advance. A carrier shall notify providers of any unplanned system downtime as soon as practicable.

B. Confirmation of receipt and tracking numbers.

(1) Within one business day of receipt, a carrier shall confirm receipt of a prior authorization request and any supporting documentation to the submitter. The carrier also shall assign a unique tracking number to the request. The tracking number shall identify the request throughout the processing cycle, including after approval or denial.

(2) The confirmation that includes the tracking number shall be communicated by electronic portal, fax or email.

(3) A carrier shall provide the tracking number of a prior authorization request to the covered person upon request.

(4) A carrier may assign other identifiers to a prior authorization request.

Notes

N.M. Admin. Code § 13.10.31.9

Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXII, Issue 11, June 8, 2021, eff. 1/1/2022