[§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]