TITLE 28.INSURANCE

Part 1. TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE

Chapter 11. HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATIONS

Subchapter C. APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY

28 TAC §11.204

The Commissioner of Insurance adopts the amendment to §11.204(15)(A), concerning the notice that an insurer is required to give the commissioner and a health maintenance organization (HMO) prior to the termination or reduction of coverage by the insurer of any reinsurance agreement and any other agreement covering excess of loss, stop-loss, and/or catastrophes as prescribed in Insurance Code Article 20A.05(a)(4)(C). The section is adopted without change to the proposed text as published in the February 8, 2002, issue of the Texas Register (27 TexReg 868) and will not be republished.

The amendment to §11.204 is necessary to correct an incorrect cite to the Insurance Code contained in §11.204(15)(A). Section 11.204(15)(A) currently refers to any reinsurance agreement and any other agreement described in Insurance Code Article 20A.05(b)(2)(C)(iii). No such provision exists in the Insurance Code. Section 11.204(15)(A) should cite to Insurance Code Article 20A.05(a)(4)(C), which states that the commissioner consider any agreement that an HMO enters into with an insurer, group hospital service corporation, a political subdivision of government, or any other organization for insuring the payment of the cost of health care services or the provision for automatic applicability of alternative coverage in the event of discontinuance of the plan.

The amendment to §11.204(15)(A) correctly references Insurance Code Article 20A.05(a)(4)(C), and thereby provides that the contents of an application for an HMO certificate of authority must include any reinsurance agreement and any other agreement described in Insurance Code Article 20A.05(a)(4)(C), covering excess of loss, stop-loss, and/or catastrophes. Section 11.204(15)(A) requires that an agreement entered into between an HMO and an insurer provide that the commissioner and the HMO will be notified no less that 60 days prior to termination or reduction of coverage by the insurer.

No comments were received.

The amendment is adopted under Insurance Code Article 20A.22 and §36.001. Article 20A.22 authorizes the commissioner to adopt rules as necessary to carry out the provisions of Insurance Code, Chapter 20A. Section 36.001 provides the Commissioner of Insurance with the authority to adopt rules for the conduct and execution of the powers and duties of the department as authorized by statute.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on March 28, 2002.

TRD-200201957

Lynda Nesenholtz

General Counsel and Chief Clerk

Texas Department of Insurance

Effective date: April 17, 2002

Proposal publication date: February 8, 2002

For further information, please call: (512) 463-6327