(1) Annually, the health carrier shall evaluate its quality assessment activities by using the following HEDIS year 2007 measures:

(a) childhood immunization;

(b) breast cancer screening;

(c) cervical cancer screening;

(d) comprehensive diabetes care; and

(e) HEDIS/Consumer Assessment of Health Plan Survey (CAHPS) for adults.

(2) The health carrier shall record organizational components that affect accessibility, availability, comprehensiveness, and continuity of care, including:

(a) referrals;

(b) case management;

(c) discharge planning;

(d) appointment scheduling and waiting periods for all types of health care services;

(e) second opinions, as applicable;

(f) prior authorizations, as applicable;

(g) provider reimbursement arrangements that contain financial incentives that may affect the care provided; and

(h) other systems, procedures, or administrative requirements used by the health carrier that affect the delivery of care.

(3) The health carrier may meet the requirements in (2) by submitting information to the department regarding network adequacy as specified in ARM 37.108.201, et seq., as long as the information is consistent with what is required in (2).

(4) The department adopts and incorporates by reference the HEDIS year 2007 measures for the categories listed in (1)(a) through (e). The HEDIS year 2007 measures are developed by the National Committee for Quality Assurance and provide a standardized mechanism for measuring and comparing the quality of services offered by managed care health plans. Copies of HEDIS 2007 measures are available from the National Committee for Quality Assurance, 2000 L Street NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20036 or on the internet at www.ncqa.org.