(a) Upon demonstration to the Commissioner of compliance with this Article, an insurance company licensed in this State, a prepaid health plan licensed to do business in this State, or a hospital or medical service corporation authorized to do business in this State, may either directly or through a subsidiary or affiliate organize and operate a health maintenance organization under the provisions of this Article. Notwithstanding any other law which may be inconsistent herewith, any two or more such insurance companies, hospital or medical service corporations, prepaid health plans, or subsidiaries or affiliates thereof, may jointly organize and operate a health maintenance organization. The business of insurance is deemed to include the arranging of health care by a health maintenance organization owned or operated by an insurer or a subsidiary thereof.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of the insurance and hospital or medical service corporation laws contained in Articles 1 through 66 of this Chapter, an insurer or a hospital or medical service corporation may contract with a health maintenance organization to provide insurance or similar protection against the cost of care provided through health maintenance organizations and to provide coverage in the event of the failure of the health maintenance organization to meet its obligations. The enrollees of a health maintenance organization constitute a permissible group under such laws. Among other things, under such contracts, the insurer or hospital or medical service corporation may make benefit payments to health maintenance organizations for health care services rendered by providers pursuant to the health care plan. (1977, c. 580, s. 1; 1979, c. 876, s. 1; 2018-49, s. 2(d).)