§ 58-67-95. Powers of insurers and hospital and medical service corporations. - North Carolina Statutes

§58‑67‑95.  Powers of insurers and hospital and medical servicecorporations.

(a)        An insurancecompany licensed in this State, or a hospital or medical service corporationauthorized to do business in this State, may either directly or through asubsidiary or affiliate organize and operate a health maintenance organizationunder the provisions of this Article. Notwithstanding any other law which maybe inconsistent herewith, any two or more such insurance companies, hospital ormedical service corporations, or subsidiaries or affiliates thereof, mayjointly organize and operate a health maintenance organization. The business ofinsurance is deemed to include the arranging of health care by a healthmaintenance organization owned or operated by an insurer or a subsidiarythereof.

(b)        Notwithstanding anyprovision of the insurance and hospital or medical service corporation lawscontained in Articles 1 through 66 of this Chapter, an insurer or a hospital ormedical service corporation may contract with a health maintenance organizationto provide insurance or similar protection against the cost of care providedthrough health maintenance organizations and to provide coverage in the eventof the failure of the health maintenance organization to meet its obligations.The enrollees of a health maintenance organization constitute a permissiblegroup under such laws. Among other things, under such contracts, the insurer orhospital or medical service corporation may make benefit payments to healthmaintenance organizations for health care services rendered by providerspursuant to the health care plan. (1977, c. 580, s. 1; 1979, c.876, s. 1.)