Title 27

(a) No health maintenance organization, or representative thereof, may cause or knowingly permit the use of advertising which is untrue or misleading, solicitation which is untrue or misleading, or any form or evidence of coverage which is deceptive. For purposes of this chapter:…

(a) Unless exempted pursuant to subsection (c), health maintenance organizations in this state shall only solicit enrollees or otherwise market their services through producers duly licensed in accordance with Chapters 7 and 8A of this title. (b) The commissioner shall, after not…

(a) An insurance company licensed in this state, or a health care service plan authorized to do business in this state, may either directly or through a subsidiary or affiliate organize and operate a health maintenance organization under the provisions of this chapter. Notwithsta…

(a) The commissioner may make an examination of the affairs of any health maintenance organization and providers with whom such organization has contracts or agreements as often as is reasonably necessary for the protection of the interests of the people of this state, but not le…

(a) The commissioner in consultation with and with the approval of the State Health Officer, where necessary, may suspend or revoke any certificate of authority issued to a health maintenance organization under this chapter if he finds that any of the following conditions exist: …

(a) Any rehabilitation, liquidation, or conservation of a health maintenance organization shall be deemed to be the rehabilitation, liquidation, or conservation of an insurance company and shall be conducted under the supervision of the commissioner pursuant to the law governing …

The commissioner may, after notice and hearing, promulgate reasonable rules and regulations, in accordance with Section 27-2-17, as are necessary or proper to carry out the provisions of this chapter. The State Health Officer may promulgate such rules and regulations in accordanc…

(a) Notwithstanding any law of this state to the contrary, any person may apply to the commissioner for and obtain a certificate of authority to establish and operate a health maintenance organization in compliance with this chapter. No person shall establish or operate a health …

(a) When the commissioner has cause to believe that grounds for the denial of an application for a certificate of authority exist, or that grounds for the suspension or revocation of a certificate of authority exist, he shall notify the health maintenance organization and the Sta…

(a) Every health maintenance organization subject to this chapter shall pay to the commissioner the following fees: (1) For filing an application for certificate of authority or amendment thereto, $50.00; (2) For filing an amendment to the organization documents that requires app…

(a) The commissioner may, in lieu of suspension or revocation of a certificate of authority under Section 27-21A-17, levy an administrative penalty in an amount not less than $500.00 nor more than $5,000.00, if reasonable notice in writing is given of the intent to levy the penal…

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, provisions of the insurance law and provisions of health care service plan laws shall not be applicable to any health maintenance organization granted a certificate of authority under this chapter. This subsection shall not apply …

All applications, filings, and reports required under this chapter, except those which are trade secrets or privileged or confidential commercial or financial information, other than any annual financial statement that may be required under Section 27-21A-8, shall be treated as p…

Any data or information pertaining to the diagnosis, treatment, or health of any enrollee or applicant obtained from such person or from any provider by any health maintenance organization shall be held in confidence and shall not be disclosed to any person except to the extent t…

The State Health Officer and the commissioner, in carrying out their obligations under this chapter, may contract with qualified persons to make recommendations concerning the determinations required to be made by them. Such recommendations may be accepted in full or in part by t…

No person may make a tender for or a request or invitation for tenders of, or enter into an agreement to exchange securities for or acquire in the open market or otherwise, any voting security of a health maintenance organization or enter into any other agreement if, after the co…

Health maintenance organizations doing business in this state shall be subject to and pay the annual premium tax to be paid by health insurers on health insurance premiums. The same taxes and filing requirements applicable to health insurers under this title, shall apply to and s…

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, any health maintenance organization licensed by the State Board of Health and in operation on May 29, 1986, shall be granted a certificate of authority upon payment of the application fee prescribed in Section 27-21A-21 and…

(a)(1) Upon receipt of an application for issuance of a certificate of authority, the commissioner shall forthwith transmit copies of such application and accompanying documents to the State Health Officer. (2) The State Health Officer shall determine whether the applicant for a …

(a) A health maintenance organization is entitled to coordinate benefits on the same basis as an insurer. No such coordination shall be allowed against policies covering individuals on other than a group basis. (b) A health maintenance organization providing medical benefits or p…

There shall be established a three member HMO advisory council to advise and consult with the commissioner and the State Health Officer in carrying out their duties under this chapter. The members of such advisory body shall be appointed annually by the Alabama Association of Hea…

(a) The state government, or any agency, board, commission, institution, or political subdivision thereof, and any city or county, or board of education, which offers its employees a health benefits plan may make available to and inform its employees or members of the option to e…

(a) The powers of a health maintenance organization include, but are not limited to the following: (1) The purchase, lease, construction, renovation, operation, or maintenance of hospitals, medical facilities, or both, and their ancillary equipment; (2) The making of loans other …

The governing body of any health maintenance organization may include providers, or other individuals, or both. (Acts 1986, No. 86-471, p. 854, §5.)

(a) Any director, officer, employee, or partner of a health maintenance organization who receives, collects, disburses, or invests funds in connection with the activities of such organization shall be responsible for such funds in a fiduciary relationship to the organization. (b)…

(a)(1) Every enrollee residing in this state is entitled to an evidence of coverage. If the enrollee obtains such coverage through an insurance policy or a contract issued by a health care service plan, the insurer or the health care service plan shall issue the evidence of cover…

Every health maintenance organization shall annually, on or before the first day of March, file a report verified by at least two principal officers with the commissioner, with a copy to the State Health Officer, covering the preceding calendar year. Such report shall be on forms…

Every health maintenance organization shall provide promptly to its enrollees notice of any material change in the operation of the organization that will affect them directly. (Acts 1986, No. 86-471, p. 854, §9.)