06 LC 33
1132
Senate
Bill 438
By:
Senators Meyer von Bremen of the 12th, Hooks of the 14th and Golden of the 8th
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Article 1 of Chapter 18 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to the state
employeeś
health insurance plan, so as to provide time requirements for the credentialing
of hospitals, physicians, and other health care providers by a new third-party
administrator of the state
employeeś
health insurance plan; to provide for related matters; to provide for
applicability; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and
for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Article
1 of Chapter 18 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to the state
employeeś
health insurance plan, is amended by adding a new Code section to the end of
such article to read as follows:
∀45-18-20.
At
any time in which the board selects and enters into a contract with a new third
party to administer health benefits under this article, the new third-party
administrator shall be required to complete the credentialing process on any
hospital, physician, or other health care provider:
(1)
Within seven days of entering into a contract with the board to reapprove any
hospital, physician, or other health care provider that had been approved and
credentialed by the third-party administrator immediately preceding the new
third-party administrator; and
(2)
Within 30 days of entering into a contract with the board to approve any
hospital, physician, or other health care provider that is to be newly approved
and credentialed by the third-party administrator.
The
board shall have the authority to grant, in its sole discretion, up to 21
additional days to the third-party administrator with respect to paragraphs (1)
and (2) of this Code section if the administrator can demonstrate due diligence
in its efforts to meet such time requirements. The requirements of this Code
section shall be included in the contract entered into between the board and the
third-party
administrator.∀
SECTION
2.
This
Act shall apply to all plan years beginning on and after January 1,
2007.
SECTION
3.
This
Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its
becoming law without such approval.
SECTION
4.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.