- Introduced -

SB 459 - This act deems a managed care plan's network as adequate if the managed care plan is:

(1) A Medicare + Choice coordinated care plan offered by the health carrier pursuant to a contract with the federal centers for medicare and medicaid services;

(2) A managed care plan that has been accredited by National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), and such accreditation is in effect at the time the access plan is filed; or

(3) The managed care plan's network has been accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Health Organizations at a level of accreditation without type I recommendations or better. If the accreditation applies only to a portion of the managed care plan's network, only the accredited portion will be deemed adequate (Section 354.603).

This act is identical to HB 225 (2003) and similar to provisions contained in SB 1061 (2002).

STEPHEN WITTE