§ 42-14.5-1.1. Legislative findings.
The general assembly hereby finds and declares as follows:
(1) A substantial amount of healthcare services in this state are purchased for the benefit of patients by healthcare insurers engaged in the provision of healthcare financing services or is otherwise delivered subject to the terms of agreements between healthcare insurers and providers of the services.
(2) Healthcare insurers are able to control the flow of patients to providers of healthcare services through compelling financial incentives for patients in their plans to utilize only the services of providers with whom the insurers have contracted.
(3) Healthcare insurers also control the healthcare services rendered to patients through utilization review programs and other managed care tools and associated coverage and payment policies.
(4) By incorporation or merger the power of healthcare insurers in markets of this state for healthcare services has become great enough to create a competitive imbalance, reducing levels of competition and threatening the availability of high quality, cost-effective healthcare.
(5) The power of healthcare insurers to unilaterally impose provider contract terms may jeopardize the ability of physicians and other healthcare providers to deliver the superior quality healthcare services that have been traditionally available in this state.
(6) It is the intention of the general assembly to authorize healthcare providers to jointly discuss with healthcare insurers topics of concern regarding the provision of quality healthcare through a committee established by an advisory to the health insurance commissioner.
History of Section.
P.L. 2005, ch. 273, § 2; P.L. 2005, ch. 274, § 2.