(1) The department will review all final applications for completeness. The department may request an applicant provide additional information. If the applicant declines to provide the additional information requested by the department, the department will process the application and either approve or deny the final application based upon the information supplied by the applicant.

(2) Within 30 days of receipt of a complete final application which contains all required information from the MCO, the department will approve final applications which meet the criteria established by these rules and relevant statutes. An applicant that is aggrieved by a decision of the department may request administrative review of the decision or request a contested case hearing.

(3) Upon approval of a final application for certification, the department will certify the applicant as a MCO. The original certification will be effective for a specified period of not less than one year or more than two years from the date the certification is issued, unless suspended or revoked by the department. The exact period of certification will be determined by the department on a case-by-case basis, in order to stagger the renewal dates of MCO certifications. The certification will specify when annual reports (see 24.29.2351) must be filed with the department.