Ariz. Admin. Code § 9-22-705

Current through Register Vol. 30, No. 50, December 13, 2024

Section R9-22-705 - Payments by Contractors

A.General requirements. A contractor shall contract with providers to provide covered services to members enrolled with the contractor. The contractor is responsible for reimbursing providers and coordinating care for services provided to a member. Except as provided in subsection (A)(2), a contractor is not required to reimburse a noncontracting provider for services rendered to a member enrolled with the contractor.

1. Providers. A provider shall enter into a provider agreement with the Administration that meets the requirements of A.R.S. § 36-2904 and 42 CFR 431.107(b) as of March 6, 1992, which is incorporated by reference and on file with the Administration, and available from the U.S. Government Printing Office, Mail Stop: IDCC, 732 N. Capitol Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20401. This incorporation by reference contains no future editions or amendments.

2. A contractor shall reimburse a noncontracting provider for services rendered to a member enrolled with the contractor as specified in this Article if:

a. The contractor referred the member to the provider or authorized the provider to render the services and the claim is otherwise payable under this Chapter, or

b. The service is emergent under Article 2 of this Chapter.

B.Timely submission of claims.

1. Under A.R.S. § 36-2904, a contractor shall deem a paper or electronic claim as submitted on the date that the claim is received by the contractor. The contractor shall do one or more of the following for each claim the contractor receives:

a. Place a date stamp on the face of the claim,

b. Assign a system-generated claim reference number, or

c. Assign a system-generated date-specific number.

2. Unless a shorter time period is specified in subcontract, a contractor shall not pay a claim for a covered service unless the claim is initially submitted within one of the following time limits, whichever is later:

a. Six months from the date of service or for an inpatient hospital claim, six months from the date of discharge; or

b. Six months from the date of eligibility posting.

3. Unless a shorter time period is specified in subcontract, a contractor shall not pay a clean claim for a covered service unless the claim is submitted within one of the following time limits, whichever is later:

a. Twelve months from the date of service or for an inpatient hospital claim, 12 months from the date of discharge; or

b. Twelve months from the date of eligibility posting.

C.Date of claim.

1. A contractor's date of receipt of an inpatient or an outpatient hospital claim is the date the claim is received by the contractor as indicated by the date stamp on the claim, the system-generated claim reference number, or the system-generated date-specific number assigned by the contractor.

2. A hospital claim is considered paid on the date indicated on the disbursement check.

3. A denied hospital claim is considered adjudicated on the date of the claim's denial.

4. For a claim that is pending for additional supporting documentation specified in A.R.S. § 36-2903.01 or 36-2904, the contractor shall assign a new date of receipt upon receipt of the additional documentation.

5. For a claim that is pending for documentation other than the minimum required documentation specified in either A.R.S. § 36-2903.01 or 36-2904, the contractor shall not assign a new date of receipt.

6. A contractor and a hospital may, through a contract approved as specified in R9-22-715, adopt a method for identifying, tracking, and adjudicating a claim that is different from the method described in this subsection.

D.Payment for in-state inpatient hospital services for claims with discharge dates on or before September 30, 2014. A contractor shall reimburse an in-state provider of inpatient hospital services rendered with a discharge date on or before September 30, 2014 , at either a rate specified by subcontract or, in absence of the subcontract, the prospective tiered-per-diem amount in A.R.S. § 36-2903.01 and this Article. Subcontract rates, terms, and conditions are subject to review and approval or disapproval under A.R.S. § 36-2904 and R9-22-715. This subsection does not apply to an urban contractor as specified in R9-22-718 and A.R.S. § 36-2905.01.

E.Payment for Inpatient out-of-state hospital payments for claims with discharge dates on or before September 30, 2014. In the absence of a contract with an out-of-state hospital that specifies payment rates, a contractor shall reimburse out-of-state hospitals for covered inpatient services by multiplying covered charges by the most recent statewide urban cost-to-charge ratio as determined in R9-22-712.01(6)(b).

F.Payment for inpatient hospital services for claims with discharge dates on and after October 1, 2014 regardless of admission date. Subject to R9-22-718 and A.R.S. § 36-2905.01 regarding urban hospitals, a contractor shall reimburse an instate or out-of-state provider of inpatient hospital services, at either a rate specified by subcontract or, in absence of a subcontract, the DRG rate established by the Administration and this Article. Subcontract rates, terms, and conditions are subject to review and approval or disapproval under A.R.S. § 36-2904 and R9-22-715.

G. Payment for in-state outpatient hospital services.

A contractor shall reimburse an in-state provider of outpatient hospital services rendered on or after July 1, 2005, at either a rate specified by a subcontract or, in absence of a subcontract, as provided under R9-22-712.10, A.R.S. § 36-2903.01 and other sections of this Article. The terms of the subcontract are subject to review and approval or disapproval under A.R.S. § 36-2904 and R9-22-715.

H.Outpatient out-of-state hospital payments. In the absence of a contract with an out-of-state hospital that specifies payment rates, a contractor shall reimburse out-of-state hospitals for covered outpatient services by applying the methodology described in R9-22-712.10 through R9-22-712.50. If the outpatient procedure is not assigned a fee schedule amount, the contractor shall pay the claim by multiplying the covered charges for the outpatient services by the statewide outpatient cost-to-charge ratio.

I. Payment for observation days. A contractor shall reimburse a provider and a noncontracting provider for the provision of observation days at either a rate specified by subcontract or, in the absence of a subcontract, as prescribed under R9-22-712, R9-22-712.10, and R9-22-712.45.

J. Review of claims and coverage for hospital supplies.

1. A contractor may conduct a review of any claims submitted and recoup any payments made in error.

2. A hospital shall obtain prior authorization from the appropriate contractor for nonemergency admissions. When issuing prior authorization, a contractor shall consider the medical necessity of the service, and the availability and cost effectiveness of an alternative treatment. Failure to obtain prior authorization when required is cause for nonpayment or denial of a claim. A contractor shall not require prior authorization for medically necessary services provided during any prior period for which the contractor is responsible. If a contractor and a hospital agree to a subcontract, the parties shall abide by the terms of the subcontract regarding utilization control activities. A hospital shall cooperate with a contractor's reasonable activities necessary to perform concurrent review and shall make the hospital's medical records pertaining to a member enrolled with a contractor available for review.

3. Regardless of prior authorization or concurrent review activities, a contractor may make prepayment or post-payment review of all claims, including but not limited to a hospital claim. A contractor may recoup an erroneously paid claim.

If prior authorization was given for an inpatient hospital admission, a specific service, or level of care but subsequent medical review indicates that the admission, the service, or level of care was not medically appropriate, the contractor shall adjust the claim payment.

4. A contractor and a hospital may enter into a subcontract that includes hospital claims review criteria and procedures if the subcontract meets the requirements of R9-22-715.

5. Personal care items supplied by a hospital, including but not limited to the following, are not covered services:

a. Patient care kit,

b. Toothbrush,

c. Toothpaste,

d. Petroleum jelly,

e. Deodorant,

f. Septi soap,

g. Razor,

h. Shaving cream,

i. Slippers,

j. Mouthwash,

k. Disposable razor,

l. Shampoo,

m. Powder,

n. Lotion,

o. Comb, and

p. Patient gown.

6. The following hospital supplies and equipment, if medically necessary and used by the member, are covered services:

a. Arm board,

b. Diaper,

c. Underpad,

d. Special mattress and special bed,

e. Gloves,

f. Wrist restraint,

g. Limb holder,

h. Disposable item used instead of a durable item,

i. Universal precaution,

j. Stat charge, and

k. Portable charge.

7. The contractor shall determine in a hospital claims review whether services rendered were:

a. Covered services as defined in R9-22-201;

b. Medically necessary;

c. Provided in the most appropriate, cost-effective, and least restrictive setting; and

d. For claims with dates of admission on and after March 1, 1993, substantiated by the minimum documentation specified in A.R.S. § 36-2904.

8. If a contractor adjudicates a claim or recoups payment for a claim, a person may file a claim dispute challenging the adjudication or recoupment as described under 9 A.A.C. 34.

K. Non-hospital claims. A contractor shall pay claims for non-hospital services in accordance with contract, or in the absence of a contract, at a rate not less than the Administration's capped fee-for-service schedule or at a lower rate if negotiated between the two parties.

L. Payments to hospitals. A contractor shall pay for inpatient hospital admissions and outpatient hospital services rendered on or after March 1, 1993, as follows and as described in A.R.S. § 36-2904:

1. If the hospital bill is paid within 30 days from the date of receipt, the claim is paid at 99 percent of the rate.

2. If the hospital bill is paid between 30 and 60 days from the date of receipt, the claim is paid at 100 percent of the rate.

3. If the hospital bill is paid after 60 days from the date of receipt, the claim is paid at 100 percent of the rate plus a 1 percent penalty of the rate for each month or portion of the month following the 60th day of receipt of the bill until date of payment.

M. Interest payment. In addition to the requirements in subsection (L), a contractor shall pay interest for late claims as defined by contract.

N. For services subject to limitations or exclusions such as the number of hours, days, or visits covered as described in Article 2 of this Chapter, once the limit is reached the Administration will not reimburse the services.

Ariz. Admin. Code § R9-22-705

Adopted as an emergency effective May 20, 1982, pursuant to A.R.S. § 41-1003, valid for only 90 days (Supp. 82-3). Former Section R9-22-705 adopted as an emergency now adopted and amended as a permanent rule effective August 30, 1982 (Supp. 82-4). Amended as an emergency effective February 23, 1983, pursuant to A.R.S. § 41-1003, valid for only 90 days (Supp. 83-1). Amended as a permanent rule effective May 16, 1983; text of the amended rule identical to emergency (Supp. 83-3). Former Section R9-22-705 repealed, new Section R9-22-705 adopted effective October 1, 1983 (Supp. 83-5). Amended as an emergency effective October 25, 1984, pursuant to A.R.S. § 41-1003, valid for only 90 days (Supp. 84-5). Emergency expired. Permanent amendment adopted effective February 1, 1985 (Supp. 85-1). Amended effective October 1, 1985 (Supp. 85-5). Amended subsection (C) effective October 1, 1986 (Supp. 86-5). Amended subsection (C) effective October 1, 1987; amended subsection (C) effective December 22, 1987 (Supp. 87-4). Amended subsections (A) and (C) effective May 30, 1989 (Supp. 89-2). Amended effective April 13, 1990 (Supp. 90-2). Amended under an exemption from the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, effective March 1, 1993 (Supp. 93-1). Amended under an exemption from the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, effective July 1, 1993 (Supp. 93-3). Amended effective September 22, 1997 (Supp. 97-3). Amended by final rulemaking at 5 A.A.R. 867, effective March 4, 1999 (Supp. 99-1). Amended by final rulemaking at 6 A.A.R. 179, effective December 13, 1999 (Supp. 99-4). Amended by final rulemaking at 11 A.A.R. 3222, effective October 1, 2005 (Supp. 05-3). Amended by final rulemaking at 13 A.A.R. 662, effective April 7, 2007 (Supp. 07-1). Amended by final rulemaking at 14 A.A.R. 1439, effective May 31, 2008 (Supp. 08-2). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 17 A.A.R. 1707, effective October 1, 2011 (Supp. 11-3). Amended by final rulemaking at 19 A.A.R. 2747, effective October 8, 2013. Amended by final rulemaking at 20 A.A.R. 1956, effective 9/6/2014.