a. The commissioner after a hearing and on the basis of the facts developed at such hearing may make a finding that medical malpractice liability insurance is not readily available for any category or subcategory of insureds to which this act applies, and after such a finding activate the facility with respect to such category or subcategory.

b. Upon such activation, the board shall issue an invitation to each member of the association which has written during the 24 months preceding the date of such activation medical malpractice liability insurance of the type for which the association was activated anywhere in the United States of America, to become a qualified provider of such coverage in this State. If the board qualifies no company as a provider or if the commissioner determines after a hearing and on the basis of facts developed at such hearing, that the company or companies were not properly qualified, the commissioner shall order the association to write medical malpractice liability insurance on a direct basis and the association shall file within 30 days rates, rating plans, rules and classifications for the category or subcategory of insureds for which the association will be writing insurance on a direct basis. If the association does not submit such a filing within the prescribed number of days or during any extension granted by the commissioner, the commissioner shall promulgate the rates, rating plans, rules and classifications, certify same and order the association to insure eligible risks in accordance with the terms of his order. Qualified providers shall be compensated in accordance with the provisions of the plan of operation.

c. No member of the association qualified as a provider in accordance with this section shall refuse to issue to any eligible risk a policy of insurance of the type normally afforded by such insurer to the public, utilizing the rates, rating plans, rules and classification systems then in effect for such insurer; provided, however, that the coverages and coverage limits to be afforded may be ceded to the association; and provided further that nothing herein contained shall require an insurer to accept any risk if such insurer’s policy forms or rates do not apply to such risk;

d. No duly licensed insurance agent of a qualified provider broker or solicitor shall refuse to furnish to any eligible risk quotations of premiums for such provider with whom such agent, broker or solicitor regularly places medical malpractice liability insurance policies, or shall fail to submit any eligible risk to such provider;

e. No company shall terminate any agent or restrict the authority of any agent, directly or indirectly, or in any manner whatsoever, solely by reason of the volume of such agent’s business it cedes to the association or the experience produced by such ceded business. Neither shall any company make any distinction in remuneration to the agent between business retained and business ceded, or use any promise of reward or threat of penalty, present or future, or any device whatever, related to certain classes of risks or other classes of business, which would tend to induce the agent to avoid certain classes or types of risks.

L.1975, c. 301, s. 8, eff. Jan. 30, 1976. Amended by L.1978, c. 153, s. 6.