[§432D-12]  Powers of insurers and hospitaland medical service corporations.  (a)  An insurance company licensed inthis State, or a hospital or medical service corporation authorized to dobusiness in this State, either directly or through a subsidiary or affiliate,may organize and operate a health maintenance organization under the provisionsof this chapter.  Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, any two ormore insurance companies, hospital or medical service corporations, orsubsidiaries or affiliates thereof, may jointly organize and operate a healthmaintenance organization.  The business of insurance is deemed to include theproviding of health care by a health maintenance organization owned or operatedby an insurer or a subsidiary thereof.

(b)  Notwithstanding any contrary provision oflaws pertaining to insurance or hospital or medical service corporations, aninsurer or a hospital or medical service corporation may contract with a healthmaintenance organization to provide insurance or similar protection against thecost of care provided through health maintenance organizations and to providecoverage in the event of the failure of the health maintenance organization tomeet its obligations.  The enrollees of a health maintenance organizationconstitute a permissible group under such laws.  Among other things, under suchcontracts, the insurer or hospital or medical service corporation may makebenefit payments to health maintenance organizations for health care servicesrendered by providers. [L 1995, c 179, pt of §1]