Okla. Admin. Code § 317:55-3-13 - Termination of managed care contract
(a)
Termination of an MCO, permitted by 42 C. F.R. § 438.708.
Members impacted by the contract termination of an MCO will be enrolled with a
different MCO or be provided Medicaid benefits through options as prescribed in
the Oklahoma Medicaid State Plan. OHCA may terminate a contract with an MCO if
OHCA determines that the MCO:
(1) Failed to
carry out the substantive terms of the contract; or
(2) Failed to meet applicable requirements of
sections 1903(m), 1905(t), or 1932 of the Act.
(b)
Termination permitted by contract,
MCO or DBM. Grounds for termination include:
(1)
Mutual consent. OHCA and the
MCO or DBM may terminate the contract by a mutually written agreement. The MCO
or DBM does not have the right to appeal the termination. Enrollees impacted by
the contract termination will be enrolled with a different MCO or DBM of their
choosing or, if no choice is made, a default MCO or DBM.
(2)
Termination for convenience.
OHCA may terminate a contract for convenience, in whole or part, with a sixty
(60) day written notice to the MCO or DBM if the State determines that
termination is in the State's best interest. Any partial termination of the
contract will not be construed as a waiver of, and will not affect, the rights
and obligations of any party regarding portions of the contract that remain in
effect. Upon receipt of notice of such termination, the MCO or DBM will
immediately comply with the notice terms and take all necessary steps to
minimize the incurrence of costs allocable to the work affected by the
notice.
(3)
Termination for
unavailability of funds. OHCA may terminate a contract for lack of the
availability of funds with written notice to the managed care. OHCA will give
written notice to the MCO or DBM, effective the close of business on the day
specified. OHCA is the final authority on the availability of funds, and the
MCO or DBM does not have the right to appeal this termination.
(4)
Termination for lack of
authority. In the event that the State is determined, in whole or part,
to lack Federal or State approval or authority to contract with an MCO or DBM,
OHCA may terminate the contract immediately, effective on the close of business
on the day specified. The MCO or DBM does not have the right to appeal this
termination.
(5)
Termination
for default. OHCA may terminate the contract, in whole or in part,
whenever the MCO has failed to carry out the terms of the contract or meet the
applicable readiness requirements of §§ 1932, 1903(m) or 1905(t) of
the Act.
(6)
Termination for
financial instability. In the event that OHCA, in its sole discretion,
deems an MCO or DBM to be financially unstable to the point of threatening the
ability of OHCA to obtain the services provided for under this contract, or to
conduct business in the normal course, makes a general assignment for the
benefit of creditors or suffers or permits the appointment of a receiver for
its business or its assets, then OHCA may, at its option, immediately terminate
the contract effective on the close of business on the date specified. In the
event OHCA elects to terminate the contract under this provision, the MCO or
DBM will be notified in writing specifying the date of termination. In the
event of the filing of a petition in bankruptcy court by or against a principal
subcontractor, the MCO or DBM will immediately advise OHCA. The MCO or DBM will
ensure that all tasks related to the subcontract are performed in accordance
with the terms of the contract.
(7)
Termination for debarment. Section 1932(d)(1) of the Act prohibits
affiliations with individuals debarred by federal agencies. The MCO will not
knowingly have an individual or affiliate, as defined in Section 1932(d)(1)(C),
who has been debarred, suspended, or otherwise excluded from participating in
procurement activities under the Federal Acquisition Regulation or from
participating in non-procurement activities under regulations issued under
Executive Order No. 12549 or under guidelines implementing Executive Order No.
12549.
(c)
Notice
and pre-termination hearing. Prior to terminating an MCO's contract for
default, financial instability, or debarment, OHCA will provide the MCO a
pre-termination hearing. OHCA will:
(1) Give
the MCO written notice of the intent to terminate, the reason for termination,
and the time and place of the hearing. The notice will detail how the MCO has
failed to carry out the terms of the contract and/or failed to comply with the
requirements of 1932, 1903(m) and 1905(t) of the Act. A time period will be
provided, if applicable, in which the MCO is allowed to cure the default prior
to the pre-termination hearing. If the MCO cures the default within the
specified timeframe, no further action is required;
(2) After the hearing, the MCO will receive
written notice of the decision affirming or reversing the proposed termination
of the contract. In the event the decision is affirmed the notice is to include
the effective date of the termination; and
(3) Upon affirmation of a decision, OHCA will
give enrollees of the MCO written notice, comporting with the content
requirements of
42 C.F.R §
438.10, of the termination and information
identifying options for receiving Medicaid services following the effective
date of termination. This notice will be provided within five (5) business days
of the affirming decision.
(d)
Hearing timing. Though not
required under federal regulation, OHCA provides each MCO the right, upon
notice of a termination, to request a fair hearing before an administrative law
judge (ALJ) retained by OHCA. The cost of actions necessary to process an MCO's
request will be paid by OHCA.
(1) An MCO will
file any request for fair hearing within thirty (30) days after receiving the
notice.
(2) The ALJ has
jurisdiction to hear any request under this section. The ALJ will review the
appeal for legal authority and jurisdiction. If legal authority and
jurisdictional requirements are met, the ALJ will conduct an administrative
hearing according to the hearing practices of OAC
317:2-1-5,
provide proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law to the parties, and
send written notice to the parties of the final order sustaining or denying
imposition of the sanction.
(3) At
the ALJ's discretion, the ALJ will:
(A)
Establish a scheduling order;
(B)
Establish reasonable procedures such as authorizing pleadings to be filed by
facsimile or electronic mail;
(C)
Rule on all interlocutory motions;
(D) Require briefing of any or all
issues;
(E) Conduct hearings in a
forum and manner as determined by the ALJ;
(F) Rule on the admissibility of all
evidence;
(G) Question
witnesses;
(H) Impose appropriate
sanctions against any person failing to obey an order of the ALJ or authorized
under the rules in this section which will include:
(i) Refusing to allow the person to assert or
oppose designated claims or defenses, or prohibiting that person from
introducing designated matters in evidence;
(ii) Excluding all testimony of an
unresponsive or evasive witness; or
(iii) Expelling the person from further
participation in the hearing;
(I) Take official notice of any material fact
not appearing as evidence in the record, if the fact is among traditional
matters of judicial notice;
(J)
Administer oaths or affirmations;
(K) Determine the location of the hearing and
manner in which it will be conducted;
(L) Allow either party to request that the
hearing be recorded by a court reporter with costs to be borne by the
requesting party. The original of such transcription, if ordered, will be given
to the ALJ with a copy to be given to the requesting party;
(M) Recess and reconvene the
hearing;
(N) Set and/or limit the
time frame of the hearing;
(O) Make
proposed findings of facts and conclusions of law; and
(P) Sustain or deny OHCA's imposition of the
termination(s).
Notes
State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compare.
(a) Termination of an MCO , permitted by 42 C. F.R. § 438.708. Members impacted by the contract termination of an MCO will be enrolled with a different MCO or be provided Medicaid benefits through options as prescribed in the Oklahoma Medicaid State Plan. OHCA may terminate a contract with an MCO if OHCA determines that the MCO:
(1) Failed to carry out the substantive terms of the contract ; or
(2) Failed to meet applicable requirements of sections 1903(m), 1905(t), or 1932 of the Act .
(b) Termination permitted by contract , MCO or DBM. Grounds for termination include:
(1) Mutual consent. OHCA and the MCO or DBM may terminate the contract by a mutually written agreement. The MCO or DBM does not have the right to appeal the termination. Enrollees impacted by the contract termination will be enrolled with a different MCO or DBM of their choosing or, if no choice is made, a default MCO or DBM.
(2) Termination for convenience. OHCA may terminate a contract for convenience, in whole or part, with a sixty (60) day written notice to the MCO or DBM if the State determines that termination is in the State's best interest. Any partial termination of the contract will not be construed as a waiver of, and will not affect, the rights and obligations of any party regarding portions of the contract that remain in effect. Upon receipt of notice of such termination, the MCO or DBM will immediately comply with the notice terms and take all necessary steps to minimize the incurrence of costs allocable to the work affected by the notice.
(3) Termination for unavailability of funds. OHCA may terminate a contract for lack of the availability of funds with written notice to the managed care. OHCA will give written notice to the MCO or DBM, effective the close of business on the day specified. OHCA is the final authority on the availability of funds, and the MCO or DBM does not have the right to appeal this termination.
(4) Termination for lack of authority. In the event that the State is determined, in whole or part, to lack Federal or State approval or authority to contract with an MCO or DBM, OHCA may terminate the contract immediately, effective on the close of business on the day specified. The MCO or DBM does not have the right to appeal this termination.
(5) Termination for default. OHCA may terminate the contract , in whole or in part, whenever the MCO has failed to carry out the terms of the contract or meet the applicable readiness requirements of §§ 1932, 1903(m) or 1905(t) of the Act .
(6) Termination for financial instability. In the event that OHCA, in its sole discretion, deems an MCO or DBM to be financially unstable to the point of threatening the ability of OHCA to obtain the services provided for under this contract , or to conduct business in the normal course, makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or suffers or permits the appointment of a receiver for its business or its assets, then OHCA may, at its option, immediately terminate the contract effective on the close of business on the date specified. In the event OHCA elects to terminate the contract under this provision, the MCO or DBM will be notified in writing specifying the date of termination. In the event of the filing of a petition in bankruptcy court by or against a principal subcontractor, the MCO or DBM will immediately advise OHCA. The MCO or DBM will ensure that all tasks related to the subcontract are performed in accordance with the terms of the contract .
(7) Termination for debarment. Section 1932(d)(1) of the Act prohibits affiliations with individuals debarred by federal agencies. The MCO will not knowingly have an individual or affiliate, as defined in Section 1932(d)(1)(C), who has been debarred, suspended, or otherwise excluded from participating in procurement activities under the Federal Acquisition Regulation or from participating in non-procurement activities under regulations issued under Executive Order No. 12549 or under guidelines implementing Executive Order No. 12549.
(c) Notice and pre-termination hearing. Prior to terminating an MCO 's contract for default, financial instability, or debarment, OHCA will provide the MCO a pre-termination hearing. OHCA will:
(1) Give the MCO written notice of the intent to terminate, the reason for termination, and the time and place of the hearing. The notice will detail how the MCO has failed to carry out the terms of the contract and/or failed to comply with the requirements of 1932, 1903(m) and 1905(t) of the Act . A time period will be provided, if applicable, in which the MCO is allowed to cure the default prior to the pre-termination hearing. If the MCO cures the default within the specified timeframe, no further action is required;
(2) After the hearing, the MCO will receive written notice of the decision affirming or reversing the proposed termination of the contract . In the event the decision is affirmed the notice is to include the effective date of the termination; and
(3) Upon affirmation of a decision, OHCA will give enrollees of the MCO written notice, comporting with the content requirements of 42 C.F.R § 438.10, of the termination and information identifying options for receiving Medicaid services following the effective date of termination. This notice will be provided within five (5) business days of the affirming decision.
(d) Hearing timing. Though not required under federal regulation, OHCA provides each MCO the right, upon notice of a termination, to request a fair hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ) retained by OHCA. The cost of actions necessary to process an MCO 's request will be paid by OHCA.
(1) An MCO will file any request for fair hearing within thirty (30) days after receiving the notice.
(2) The ALJ has jurisdiction to hear any request under this section. The ALJ will review the appeal for legal authority and jurisdiction. If legal authority and jurisdictional requirements are met, the ALJ will conduct an administrative hearing according to the hearing practices of OAC 317:2-1-5, provide proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law to the parties, and send written notice to the parties of the final order sustaining or denying imposition of the sanction.
(3) At the ALJ's discretion, the ALJ will:
(A) Establish a scheduling order;
(B) Establish reasonable procedures such as authorizing pleadings to be filed by facsimile or electronic mail;
(C) Rule on all interlocutory motions;
(D) Require briefing of any or all issues;
(E) Conduct hearings in a forum and manner as determined by the ALJ;
(F) Rule on the admissibility of all evidence;
(G) Question witnesses;
(H) Impose appropriate sanctions against any person failing to obey an order of the ALJ or authorized under the rules in this section which will include:
(i) Refusing to allow the person to assert or oppose designated claims or defenses, or prohibiting that person from introducing designated matters in evidence;
(ii) Excluding all testimony of an unresponsive or evasive witness; or
(iii) Expelling the person from further participation in the hearing;
(I) Take official notice of any material fact not appearing as evidence in the record, if the fact is among traditional matters of judicial notice;
(J) Administer oaths or affirmations;
(K) Determine the location of the hearing and manner in which it will be conducted;
(L) Allow either party to request that the hearing be recorded by a court reporter with costs to be borne by the requesting party. The original of such transcription, if ordered, will be given to the ALJ with a copy to be given to the requesting party;
(M) Recess and reconvene the hearing;
(N) Set and/or limit the time frame of the hearing;
(O) Make proposed findings of facts and conclusions of law; and
(P) Sustain or deny OHCA's imposition of the termination(s).