GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2001

HOUSE BILL 1160
RATIFIED BILL

AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR UNIFORM PROVIDER CREDENTIALING BY HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS.  

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Article 3 of Chapter 58 of the General Statutes is amended by adding the following new section to read:
"§ 58-3-230. Uniform provider credentialing.
(a)	An insurer that provides a health benefit plan and that credentials providers for its networks shall maintain a process to assess and verify the qualifications of a licensed health care practitioner, or applicant for licensure as a health care practitioner, within 60 days of receipt of a completed provider credentialing application form approved by the Commissioner.
(b)	The Commissioner shall by rule adopt a uniform provider credentialing application form that will provide health benefit plans with the information necessary to adequately assess and verify the qualifications of an applicant. The Commissioner may update the uniform provider credentialing application form, as necessary. No insurer that provides a health benefit plan may require an applicant to submit information that is not required by the uniform provider credentialing application form.
(c)	As used in this section, the terms 'health benefit plan' and 'insurer' shall have the meaning provided under G.S. 58-3-167."
SECTION 2. This act becomes effective October 1, 2001.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 30th day of May, 2001.

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		 Beverly E. Perdue
	 President of the Senate

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		 James B. Black
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives

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		 Michael F. Easley
	 Governor

Approved __________.m. this ______________ day of ___________________, 2001