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<section article="ghg" article_name="Health - General" number="19-713" title_number="19" title_name="Health Care Facilities" subtitle_number="7" subtitle_name="Health Maintenance Organizations">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Each health maintenance organization shall file with the Commissioner and pay the applicable filing fee as provided in § 2–112 of the Insurance Article, before they become effective:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>All rates that the health maintenance organization charges subscribers or groups of subscribers; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The form and content of each contract between the health maintenance organization and its subscribers or groups of subscribers.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <text>A health maintenance organization that offers a health benefit plan, as defined in § 11–601 of the Insurance Article, is subject to Title 11, Subtitle 6 of the Insurance Article for the health benefit plan.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>If the provisions of Title 11, Subtitle 6 of the Insurance Article conflict with the provisions of this section, the provisions of Title 11, Subtitle 6 of the Insurance Article shall prevail.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Rates of a health maintenance organization may not be excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory in relation to the services offered.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A health maintenance organization that includes a subrogation provision in its contract as authorized under § 19-713.1(d) of this subtitle shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Use in its rating methodology an adjustment that reflects the subrogation; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Identify in its rate filing with the Maryland Insurance Administration, and annually in a form approved by the Insurance Commissioner, all amounts recovered through subrogation.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>If, at any time, a health maintenance organization wishes to amend any contract with its subscribers or change any rate charged, the health maintenance organization shall file with the Commissioner the number of copies of the amendment or rate change that the Commissioner requires.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Commissioner shall provide the Department with the number of copies it requires.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>The Commissioner shall coordinate the contract and related rate filing review under this section.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>If within 60 days after a filing made pursuant to this section, the Commissioner finds the filing does not meet the requirements of subsection (f) of this section, the filer shall be sent notice of disapproval specifying in what respects the Commissioner finds that the filing fails to meet the requirements of this section and stating that the filing shall not become effective.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Commissioner may extend the initial review period described in paragraph (1) of this subsection for up to an additional 30 days if the Commissioner gives notice to the health maintenance organization of the extension before the initial review period ends.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The Commissioner may not issue a notice of disapproval of a filing under subsection (f) of this section without a statutory or regulatory basis for the disapproval and an explanation of the application of the statutory or regulatory basis which resulted in the disapproval.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>The Commissioner shall disapprove any form filed, or withdraw any previous approval, if the form:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Is in any respect in violation or does not comply with this article or applicable regulations;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Contains, or incorporates by reference, any inconsistent or inapplicable clauses, exceptions, or conditions which affect the risk purported to be assumed in the general coverage of the contract;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Has any title, heading, or other indication of its provisions which is likely to mislead the subscriber or member;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Includes provisions that are inequitable, or provisions that lack any substantial benefit to the subscriber or member;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>Is printed or otherwise reproduced in a manner as to render any provision of the form substantially illegible; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>Provides benefits that are unreasonable in relation to the premium charged.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, unless the Commissioner disapproves a filing under this section, the filing becomes effective:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>60 days after the office of the Commissioner receives the filing;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>If the Commissioner extends the review period under subsection (e)(2) of this section, on the date specified in the notice required under subsection (e)(2) of this section; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>On any other date that the Commissioner sets.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Commissioner may adopt regulations to allow a type or kind of form to be effective upon receipt of the filing by the Commissioner.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>If a health maintenance organization uses a form which becomes effective in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (2) of this subsection and the form would be subject to disapproval under subsection (f) of this section, the Commissioner may:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Subsequently disapprove the form; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Find the health maintenance organization to be in violation of § 19–729 of this subtitle and impose a penalty as provided in § 19–730 of this subtitle.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>If a health maintenance organization files a form with the Commissioner which becomes effective in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (2) of this subsection, the health maintenance organization shall pay the applicable filing fee provided in § 2–112 of the Insurance Article.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
