(a)(1) Each health carrier shall contract with (A) health care professionals to administer such health carrier’s utilization review program, and (B) clinical peers to evaluate the clinical appropriateness of an adverse determination.

(2) (A) Each utilization review program shall use documented clinical review criteria that are based on sound clinical evidence and are evaluated periodically by the health carrier’s organizational mechanism specified in subparagraph (F) of subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of § 38a-591b to assure such program’s ongoing effectiveness.

(B) Except as provided in subdivisions (3), (4) and (5) of this subsection, a health carrier may develop its own clinical review criteria or it may purchase or license clinical review criteria from qualified vendors approved by the commissioner, provided such clinical review criteria conform to the requirements of subparagraph (A) of this subdivision.

(C) Each health carrier shall (i) post on its Internet web site (I) any clinical review criteria it uses, and (II) links to any rule, guideline, protocol or other similar criterion a health carrier may rely upon to make an adverse determination as described in subparagraph (F) of subdivision (1) of subsection (e) of § 38a-591d, and (ii) make its clinical review criteria available upon request to authorized government agencies.

(3) For any utilization review for the treatment of a substance use disorder, as described in § 17a-458, the clinical review criteria used shall be: (A) The most recent edition of the American Society of Addiction Medicine Treatment Criteria for Addictive, Substance-Related, and Co-Occurring Conditions; or (B) clinical review criteria that the health carrier demonstrates to the Insurance Department is consistent with the most recent edition of the American Society of Addiction Medicine Treatment Criteria for Addictive, Substance-Related, and Co-Occurring Conditions, except that nothing in this subdivision shall prohibit a health carrier from developing its own clinical review criteria or purchasing or licensing additional clinical review criteria from qualified vendors approved by the commissioner, to address advancements in technology or types of care for the treatment of a substance use disorder, that are not covered in the most recent edition of the American Society of Addiction Medicine Treatment Criteria for Addictive, Substance-Related, and Co-Occurring Conditions. Any such clinical review criteria developed by a health carrier or purchased or licensed from a qualified vendor shall conform to the requirements of subparagraph (A) of subdivision (2) of this subsection.

(4) For any utilization review for the treatment of a child or adolescent mental disorder, the clinical review criteria used shall be: (A) The most recent guidelines of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry’s Child and Adolescent Service Intensity Instrument; or (B) clinical review criteria that the health carrier demonstrates to the Insurance Department is consistent with the most recent guidelines of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry’s Child and Adolescent Service Intensity Instrument, except that nothing in this subdivision shall prohibit a health carrier from developing its own clinical review criteria or purchasing or licensing additional clinical review criteria from qualified vendors approved by the commissioner, to address advancements in technology or types of care for the treatment of a child or adolescent mental disorder, that are not covered in the most recent guidelines of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry’s Child and Adolescent Service Intensity Instrument. Any such clinical review criteria developed by a health carrier or purchased or licensed from a qualified vendor shall conform to the requirements of subparagraph (A) of subdivision (2) of this subsection.

(5) For any utilization review for the treatment of an adult mental disorder, the clinical review criteria used shall be: (A) The most recent guidelines of the American Psychiatric Association or the most recent Standards and Guidelines of the Association for Ambulatory Behavioral Healthcare; or (B) clinical review criteria that the health carrier demonstrates to the Insurance Department is consistent with the most recent guidelines of the American Psychiatric Association or the most recent Standards and Guidelines of the Association for Ambulatory Behavioral Healthcare, except that nothing in this subdivision shall prohibit a health carrier from developing its own clinical review criteria or purchasing or licensing additional clinical review criteria from qualified vendors approved by the commissioner, to address advancements in technology or types of care for the treatment of an adult mental disorder, that are not covered in the most recent guidelines of the American Psychiatric Association or the most recent Standards and Guidelines of the Association for Ambulatory Behavioral Healthcare. Any such clinical review criteria developed by a health carrier or purchased or licensed from a qualified vendor shall conform to the requirements of subparagraph (A) of subdivision (2) of this subsection.

(b) Each health carrier shall:

(1) Have procedures in place to ensure that (A) the health care professionals administering such health carrier’s utilization review program are applying the clinical review criteria consistently in utilization review determinations, and (B) the appropriate or required individual or individuals are being designated to conduct utilization reviews;

(2) Have data systems sufficient to support utilization review program activities and to generate management reports to enable the health carrier to monitor and manage health care services effectively;

(3) Provide covered persons and participating providers with access to its utilization review staff through a toll-free telephone number or any other free calling option or by electronic means;

(4) Coordinate the utilization review program with other medical management activity conducted by the health carrier, such as quality assurance, credentialing, contracting with health care professionals, data reporting, grievance procedures, processes for assessing member satisfaction and risk management; and

(5) Routinely assess the effectiveness and efficiency of its utilization review program.

(c) If a health carrier delegates any utilization review activities to a utilization review company, the health carrier shall maintain adequate oversight, which shall include (1) a written description of the utilization review company’s activities and responsibilities, including such company’s reporting requirements, (2) evidence of the health carrier’s formal approval of the utilization review company program, and (3) a process by which the health carrier shall evaluate the utilization review company’s performance.

(d) When conducting utilization review, the health carrier shall (1) collect only the information necessary, including pertinent clinical information, to make the utilization review or benefit determination, and (2) ensure that such review is conducted in a manner to ensure the independence and impartiality of the individual or individuals involved in making the utilization review or benefit determination. No health carrier shall make decisions regarding the hiring, compensation, termination, promotion or other similar matters of such individual or individuals based on the likelihood that the individual or individuals will support the denial of benefits.