§27-21A-22. Penalties and enforcement.

(a) The commissioner may, in lieu of suspension or revocation of a certificate of authority under Section 27-21A-17, levy an administrative penalty in an amount not less than $500.00 nor more than $5,000.00, if reasonable notice in writing is given of the intent to levy the penalty and the health maintenance organization has a reasonable time within which to remedy the defect in its operations which gave rise to the penalty citation. The commissioner may augment this penalty by an amount equal to the sum that he calculates to be the damages suffered by enrollees or other members of the public. All moneys collected under this section shall be deposited to the credit of the General Fund.

(b)(1) If the commissioner or the State Health Officer shall for any reason have cause to believe that any violation of this chapter has occurred or is threatened, the commissioner or State Health Officer may give notice to the health maintenance organization and to the representatives, or other persons who appear to be involved in such suspected violation, to arrange a conference with the alleged violators or their authorized representatives for the purpose of attempting to ascertain the facts relating to such suspected violation, and, in the event it appears that any violation has occurred or is threatened, to arrive at an adequate and effective means of correcting or preventing such violation.

(2) Proceedings under this subsection shall not be governed by any formal procedural requirements, and may be conducted in such manner as the commissioner or the State Health Officer may deem appropriate under the circumstances. However, unless consented to by the health maintenance organization, no rule or order may result from a conference until the requirements of this section or Section 27-21A-20 of this chapter are satisfied.

(c)(1) The commissioner, after notice to the State Health Officer, may issue an order directing a health maintenance organization or a representative of a health maintenance organization to cease and desist from engaging in any act or practice in violation of the provisions of this chapter.

(2) Within 30 days after service of the cease and desist order, the respondent may request a hearing on the question of whether acts or practices in violation of this chapter have occurred. Such hearings shall be conducted and judicial review had in accord with the provisions of this title.

(d) In the case of any violation of the provisions of this chapter, if the commissioner elects not to issue a cease and desist order, or in the event of noncompliance with a cease and desist order issued pursuant to subsection (c), the commissioner may institute a proceeding to obtain injunctive or other appropriate relief in the Circuit Court of Montgomery County.

(Acts 1986, No. 86-471, p. 854, §22.)