(a) Any person, including an insurer, as defined in subsection (c) of section 53-441, who has knowledge of or has reason to believe that health insurance fraud, as defined in section 53-442, has occurred, shall provide notice and any information, evidence and documentation in the person's or its possession relative to the suspected fraud to the Insurance Commissioner.

(b) The commissioner shall review and investigate any reports of or information received by any person regarding insurance fraud; he shall conduct an independent investigation of the suspected insurance fraud; and when he reasonably believes that a violation has occurred, he shall refer such investigation to the appropriate state agency for criminal prosecution, civil enforcement or disciplinary action. During the commissioner's investigation and prior to the referral of such investigation, the investigation and record thereof shall be confidential.

(c) Any person, including an insurer, as defined in subsection (c) of section 53-441, or a not-for-profit organization established to detect and prevent insurance fraud or his or its agents or employees may disclose otherwise personal or privileged information as defined in section 38a-976, orally or in writing to another person concerning any alleged, suspected or anticipated insurance fraud as defined in section 53-442, when such disclosure is limited to that which is reasonably necessary to detect, investigate or prevent criminal activity, fraud, material misrepresentation or material nondisclosure.

(d) No person shall be subject to liability for libel, slander or any other civil liability in connection with the filing of reports or documents, or furnishing orally or in writing information concerning any suspected, anticipated or alleged insurance fraud, when the reports, documents or information are provided or received in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) or (c) of this section or in accordance with an order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction to provide testimony or evidence, unless such person disclosed false information with malice or wilful intent to injure any person.

(P.A. 93-430, S. 7, 9; P.A. 00-211, S. 5.)

History: P.A. 93-430 effective October 1, 1994 (Revisor's note: In subsections (a) and (c) the words “their possession” and “their agents” were changed editorially by the Revisors to “his or its possession” and “his or its agents” respectively, for grammatical correctness); P.A. 00-211 amended Subsec. (a) to require notice and evidence in a person's possession relative to suspected fraud to be provided to the Insurance Commissioner, and made a technical change for purposes of gender neutrality.