(a)The Office of Managed Care Patient Assistance Program shall hereafter be known as the Health Insurance Smart NC.
(b)The Health Insurance Smart NC shall provide information and assistance to individuals enrolled in health care plans.
(c)Health Insurance Smart NC shall have the responsibility and duty to:
(1)Develop and distribute educational and informational materials for consumers, explaining their rights and responsibilities as health care plan enrollees.
(2)Answer inquiries posed by consumers.
(3)Advise health care plan enrollees about the utilization review process.
(4)Assist enrollees with the grievance, appeal, and external review procedures established by Article 50 of Chapter 58 of the General Statutes.
(5)Publicize the Health Insurance Smart NC.
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(a) The Office of Managed Care Patient Assistance Program shall hereafter be known as the Health Insurance Smart NC.
(b) The Health Insurance Smart NC shall provide information and assistance to individuals enrolled in health care plans.
(c) Health Insurance Smart NC shall have the responsibility and duty to:
(1) Develop and distribute educational and informational materials for consumers, explaining their rights and responsibilities as health care plan enrollees.
(2) Answer inquiries posed by consumers.
(3) Advise health care plan enrollees about the utilization review process.
(4) Assist enrollees with the grievance, appeal, and external review procedures established by Article 50 of Chapter 58 of the General Statutes.
(5) Publicize the Health Insurance Smart NC.
(6) Compile data on the activities of the Office and evaluate such data to make recommendations as to the needed activities of the Office.
(d) Repealed by Session Laws 2013-199, s. 11, effective July 1, 2013.
(e) All health information in the possession of the Health Insurance Smart NC is confidential and is not a public record pursuant to G.S. 132-1 or any other applicable statute.
For purposes of this section, "health information" means any of the following:
(1) Information relating to the past, present, or future physical or mental health or condition of an individual.
(2) Information relating to the provision of health care to an individual.
(3) Information relating to the past, present, or future payment for the provision of health care to an individual.
(4) Information, in any form, that identifies or may be used to identify an individual, that is created by, provided by, or received from any of the following:
a. An individual or an individual's spouse, parent, legal guardian, or designated representative.
b. A health care provider, health plan, employer, health care clearinghouse, or an entity doing business with these entities. (2001-446, s. 1.6; 2002-159, s. 45; 2012-142, s. 15.3(b); 2013-199, s. 11.)