Section 27-21A-16
Examination.
(a) The commissioner may make an examination of the affairs of any health maintenance organization and providers with whom such organization has contracts or agreements as often as is reasonably necessary for the protection of the interests of the people of this state, but not less frequently than once every three years.
(b) The State Health Officer may make an examination concerning health care service of any health maintenance organization and providers with whom such organization has contracts, agreements, or other arrangements as often as is reasonably necessary for the protection of the interests of the people of this state, but not less frequently than once every three years.
(c) Every health maintenance organization shall submit its relevant books and records for such examinations and in every way facilitate these examinations. For the purpose of examinations, the commissioner and the State Health Officer may administer oaths to, and examine the officers and agents of the health maintenance organization and the principals of such providers concerning their business.
(d) The expenses of examinations under this section shall be assessed against the organization being examined and such assessment shall be remitted to the commissioner to be deposited to the credit of the Special Examination Revolving Fund in Section 27-2-25, or the State Health Officer to be deposited to the credit of a fund to be known as the Health Maintenance Organization Revolving Fund. The expenses incurred by the commissioner and his examiners in the making of examinations pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, together with the compensation of such examiners, shall be paid from the Special Examination Revolving Fund. The expenses incurred by the State Health Officer and his examiners in the making of examinations pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, together with the compensation of such examiners, shall be paid from the Health Maintenance Organization Revolving Fund.
(e) In lieu of such examination, the commission or State Health Officer may accept the report of an examination made by the commissioner, State Health Officer, or other appropriate agency of the state of domicile of the health maintenance organization. The health maintenance organization shall file a copy of any such report with the commissioner and the State Health Officer.
(f) All records necessary for the complete examination of a health maintenance organization domiciled in this state shall be maintained in a location approved by the commissioner.
(Acts 1986, No. 86-471, p. 854, §16.)