If a health maintenance organization authorized to operate in this State pursuant to P.L.1973, c.337 (C. 26:2J-1 et seq.) and a general hospital licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C. 26:2H-1 et seq.) with which the health maintenance organization has a contract to provide services to its enrollees, are unable to agree on the terms of a new contract upon the expiration of the current contract, the hospital and the health maintenance organization shall continue to abide by the terms of the most current contract for a period of four months from a severance date mutually agreed upon by both parties. In that event, the health maintenance organization shall promptly notify the health care providers with which it has contracted to provide services and provide notification within the four-month extension period to those of its enrollees who reside in the county in which the hospital is located or in an adjacent county in writing as to the extension of the terms of the most current contract, and shall in the notice to its enrollees advise them of the options available to them with respect to their health care coverage.

L.1989, c.321, s.2.