Existing health maintenance organizations.

(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 compliance with Section 27-21A-12. Nothing in this section shall prohibit any such health maintenance organization from continuing to conduct business in this state until such certificate of authority is issued.

(b) Any health maintenance organization which was licensed in this state prior to January 1, 1986, may continue to operate under existing noncontractual provider arrangements (which have been approved by the State Health Officer) for three years.

(c) After issuance of a certificate of authority in accordance with subsection (a) of this section, the commissioner may require submission by the health maintenance organization of any additional information required in Section 27-21A-2 which has not previously been submitted to the State Health Officer.

(Acts 1986, No. 86-471, p. 854, §29.)