In addition to the appeal process established above, the board shall establish a program review process. If a subscriber or purchasing credit member is not eligible to file an appeal pursuant to Section 12693.85, but wants to have any program decision reviewed, he or she may request that the program review the decision. A review pursuant to this section is separate from and independent of an appeal pursuant to Section 12693.85, and a person that files a request pursuant to this section shall not, thereby, gain any right of appeal. Pursuant to Section 12693.49, any dissatisfaction with an action of a participating health, vision, or dental plan shall be resolved with the plan rather than by requesting program review. When an appeal that requests an administrative hearing is received, the appeal shall be set for hearing as provided in Section 12693.89.
(Added by Stats. 1997, Ch. 623, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1998.)