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Terms Used In Michigan Laws 550.952

  • Board: means the TPA advisory board created under section 19. See Michigan Laws 550.902
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Director: means the director of the department. See Michigan Laws 550.902
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • manager: means an individual responsible for conducting the daily operations of a third party administrator. See Michigan Laws 550.902
  • Nolo contendere: No contest-has the same effect as a plea of guilty, as far as the criminal sentence is concerned, but may not be considered as an admission of guilt for any other purpose.
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
  • Person: means an individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, association, or any other legal entity. See Michigan Laws 550.902
  • Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, shall be construed to extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories belonging to the United States; and the words "United States" shall be construed to include the district and territories. See Michigan Laws 8.3o
  • TPA: means a person that directly or indirectly processes claims under a service contract and that may also provide 1 or more other administrative services under a service contract, other than under a worker's compensation self-insurance program pursuant to section 611 of the worker's disability compensation act of 1969, 1969 PA 317, MCL 418. See Michigan Laws 550.902
    (1) If a TPA or manager violates a cease and desist order under this act and has been given notice and an opportunity for a hearing held under the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to 24.328, the director may order a civil fine of not more than $10,000.00 for each violation, or a suspension or revocation of the TPA’s certificate of authority or manager’s license, or both the fine and suspension or revocation.
    (2) The director may refuse to issue a TPA certificate of authority under this act if the director determines that the TPA or any individual responsible for the conduct of affairs of the TPA is not competent, trustworthy, financially responsible or of good personal and business reputation, or has had an insurance or a TPA certificate of authority or license denied or revoked for cause by any jurisdiction.
    (3) The director may deny, suspend, or revoke the license of a TPA, or may issue a cease and desist order if the TPA is not licensed, if the director finds, after notice and opportunity for hearing, any of the following:
    (a) That the TPA has violated any lawful rule or order of the director or any provision of the insurance laws of this state.
    (b) That the TPA refused to be examined or to produce its accounts, records, and files for examination, or that any individual responsible for the conduct of affairs of the TPA has refused to give information with respect to its affairs or has refused to perform any other legal obligation as to an examination when required by the director.
    (c) That the TPA has, without just cause, refused to pay proper claims or perform services arising under its contracts or has, without just cause, caused covered individuals to accept less than the amount due them or caused covered individuals to employ attorneys or bring suit against the TPA or a payor that it represents to secure full payment or settlement of the claims.
    (d) That the TPA is required under this act to have a license and fails at any time to meet any qualification for which issuance of a license could have been refused had the failure then existed and been known to the director, unless the director issued a license with knowledge of the grounds for disqualification and had the authority to waive it.
    (e) That any of the individuals responsible for the conduct of affairs of the TPA has been convicted of, or has entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony without regard to whether adjudication was withheld.
    (f) That the TPA’s license has been suspended or revoked in another state.
    (g) That the TPA has failed to file a timely statement under section 36 or to pay a filing fee under section 18.
    (4) As used in this section, “individual responsible for the conduct of affairs of the TPA” means any of the following:
    (a) A member of the board of directors, board of trustees, executive committee, or other governing board or committee.
    (b) A principal officer for a corporation or a partner or member for a partnership, association, or limited liability company.
    (c) A shareholder or member holding directly or indirectly 10% or more of the voting stock, voting securities, or voting interest of the TPA.
    (d) Any person who exercises control or influence over the affairs of the TPA.