Utilization Review (UR) is the evaluation of medical care services that are recommended by the authorized treating physician and provided to an injured employee. This evaluation is done to ensure that the services are necessary, appropriate and likely to be effective.If the medical necessity of a treatment recommended by an authorized treating medical provider is disputed by the insurance adjuster; and, in instances required by the workers’ compensation statutes or the medical fee schedule rules (e.g., hospital admissions, physical or occupational therapy, chiropractic care, clinical psychological treatment, or ambulance transport), it should be sent to UR. What does UR do?UR provides for the review of medical procedures recommended by the authorized treating physician as well as the pre-admission review of all hospital admissions, except for emergency services. This review occurs prior to the procedure being performed to ensure that the procedure is appropriate, necessary and likely to be effective. The decision reached by the utilization review agent can only address medical necessity, not causation and/or compensability The UR Organization conducting the review services for the employer must be registered with the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation and the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance.Who decides if the recommended treatment is appropriate?Recommended treatment can be denied only by an Advisory Medical Practitioner.
An adjuster cannot deny a recommended treatment as not being medically necessary. Denials must be accompanied by a utilization review report that gives the reasons for denial and the name and credentials of the utilization review physician.Medical treatment may be approved by any of the following:.
Insurance adjuster. Registered nurse. An Advisory Medical Practitioner, which is an actively TN-licensed practitioner, who is board-certified and in the same or similar general specialty as the authorized treating physician.An approval of the treatment by the utilization review agent is final and not subject to appeal.
Jan 19, 2017 - comprehensive healthcare utilization reports at multiple intervals. Insurance coverage is provided by Trustmark Life Insurance Company.
Denials of recommended treatment must be accompanied by a utilization review report that gives the reasons for denial and the name and credentials of the utilization review physician.Appealing the decisionA decision to deny treatment can be appealed. Denials must be accompanied by a so the injured worker, their attorney and treating physician are informed of the proper procedure to request an appeal.After a denial, the injured worker, their attorney or treating physician has thirty (30) calendar days from receipt to appeal the utilization review decision to the Bureau at the address listed on the form. After a complete medical record is received, the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation’s Medical Director, or his/her designee, will determine if he/she agrees with the insurance carrier’s utilization review denial. If the Medical Director, or his/her designee, disagrees with the utilization review decision, an order for the treatment recommended by the authorized treating physician will be issued. Are there time limits involved for this review?Yes. The adjuster has three (3) business days after being notified by the provider of the recommended treatment to approve the treatment or send the recommendation to its utilization review organization (URO). The URO has seven (7) business days to make a decision on the recommended treatment and notify all parties of the decision. If the URO does not possess all necessary information in order to render the utilization review determination, the agent may request additional information, in writing, from the authorized treating physician.
That physician must comply with the request within five (5) business days of receipt of the written request. The number of business days is extended until the URO receives the necessary information or until the five (5) business day timeframe expires, whichever occurs first.Ensuring fairness in the processAn employer, insurer, third party administrator, or UR Organization who is found to have violated the UR rules may be subjected to a penalty of not less than $50 nor more than $5,000 per violation. The Bureau may also institute a temporary or permanent suspension of the right to perform utilization review services for workers’ compensation claims, if the utilization review agent has established a pattern of violations.