[§334B-1]  Purpose.  The legislature
finds and declares that the purposes of this chapter are to:



(1)  Promote the delivery of quality health care in a
cost-effective manner;



(2)  Foster greater coordination between health care
providers, third-party payors, and others who conduct utilization review and
managed care activities;



(3)  Protect patients, employers, and health care
providers by ensuring that review agents are qualified to perform utilization
review and managed care activities and to make informed decisions on the
appropriateness of  care;



(4)  Protect patients’ health care interests through
public access to the criteria and standards used in utilization review and
managed care activities;



(5)  Ensure the confidentiality of patients’ medical
or psychological records in the utilization review and managed care activities
in accordance with applicable state and local laws; and



(6)  Provide for nondiscriminatory utilization review
of treatments for all mental health, alcohol, or drug abuse problems. [L 1991,
c 95, pt of §1]