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Provider Manual

Utilization management general information

Last Updated on February 19, 2026

People often have misconceptions about utilization management (UM) programs. At Security Health Plan all of our decisions are based on making sure our members have the appropriate care and services. Our utilization management professionals have no financial incentives to deny services. Our UM decision-making is based only on appropriateness of care and service and existence of coverage. We work with our affiliated providers to elevate and improve delivery of health care and to improve outcomes. Our philosophy is to provide the appropriate care at the appropriate time in the appropriate setting for the appropriate length of time. Key components of the Utilization Management program followed for our members are described below:

  • Pre-Certification Notification and Concurrent Review Guide
  • Prior Authorization and Pre-certification
  • Attestation of non-compensation
    • Security Health Plan utilization management (UM) decisions are based on nationally recognized and accepted clinical criteria and internal policy for determining appropriateness of care and availability of coverage.
    • Security Health Plan does not specifically reward providers or other individuals for issuing denials of coverage, nor does Security Health Plan make decisions regarding hiring, promoting or terminating individuals in UM decision-making based upon the likelihood or perceived likelihood that the individual will support or tend to support the denial of benefits.
    • Security Health Plan does not have financial incentives in place for UM decision makers; therefore, UM decision makers are not encouraged to make decisions that result in underutilization.
  • How to access the medical director:
    • Affiliated providers may discuss a utilization management decision with the Security Health Plan medical director by calling or1-800-548-1224.
  • How to access utilization management criteria:
    • Physicians and nurses at Security Health Plan use clinical criteria to make coverage decisions based on medical necessity. Nationally recognized guidelines that are modified with identification of those services available within the Security Health Plan network are used to make consistent decisions. Some examples of these guidelines are Hayes Medical Technology, Change Healthcare, InterQual Level of Care Criteria, American Society of Addiction Medicine and Wisconsin Uniform Placement Criteria. InterQual Level of Care Criteria are used to evaluate admission into inpatient procedures and transitional services as well as for concurrent review. Hayes Medical Technology is used to identify those services that are considered to be experimental or investigational.
    • If seeing a Security Health Plan member and there are questions regarding the Change Healthcare InterQual criteria used to make a determination of coverage, call Security Health Plan and receive a copy of the criteria at 1-800-548-1224, ext. 19640.
  • Technology Assessment
    • Formal review process of new medical technology and new applications of existing medical technology to ensure that members have equitable access to safe and effective care.
Security Health Plan will make a final claim decision after we review the claim, verify eligibility, and determine whether the service performed is a covered benefit under the policy.