§33-25A-5. Powers of health maintenance organizations.

(a) Upon obtaining a certificate of authority as required under this article, a health maintenance organization may enter into health maintenance contracts in this state and engage in any activities, consistent with the purposes and provisions of this article, which are necessary to the performance of its obligations under such contracts, subject to the limitations provided in this article. A health maintenance organization may offer to its enrollees in conjunction with the benefits provided to them through their contractual arrangement for health services with the health maintenance organization a point of service option to be provided either by the health maintenance organization directly or by an insurance carrier licensed in this state with which the health maintenance organization has a contractual arrangement. Benefits for health care services within the health maintenance organization's contracted provider panel shall comply with all other provisions of this article.

(b) The commissioner shall propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code limiting or regulating the powers of health maintenance organizations which the commissioner finds to be in the public interest. The commissioner may promulgate emergency rules pursuant to the provisions of section fifteen, article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code to implement standards and requirements for a point of service option.