On January 10, URAC will release revised draft accreditation standards for External Review Organizations for a second round of public comment. URAC is taking the unusual step of going back to public comment in response to the substantial public comments received during the first comment period.
External review is an increasingly common protection for patients enrolled in managed care plans.
More than half the states have enacted external review laws and external review is a prominent feature of most managed care legislation in Congress. Moreover, many health plans have begun to offer external review on a voluntary basis. To be considered, comments must be received no later than Friday, February 25. In addition to soliciting public comment, URAC will also conduct another round of beta tests for the draft standards. URAC anticipates that the external review standards will become final in late March of this year.