1. Any person may apply to the Commissioner for and obtain a certificate of authority to establish and operate a health maintenance organization in compliance with this chapter. No person shall operate a health maintenance organization without obtaining a certificate of authority under this chapter. A foreign corporation may qualify under this chapter, subject to its qualification to do business in this state as a foreign corporation.

2. No person shall be certified to establish or operate a health maintenance organization in this state, nor sell or offer to sell, or solicit offers to purchase or receive advance or periodic consideration in conjunction with health care plans unless such health maintenance organization provides or arranges for the provision of comprehensive health care services.

3. Every health maintenance organization or person operating a health maintenance organization shall submit an application for a certificate of authority under NRS 695C.070 within 30 days after July 1, 1973. Each such applicant may continue to operate until the Commissioner acts upon the application. In the event that an application is denied under NRS 695C.090 and 695C.100, the applicant shall thereafter be treated as a health maintenance organization whose certificate of authority has been revoked. For purposes of this subsection, a health maintenance organization shall be deemed to be in operation only if health care services are being provided to the public generally or to some group or groups thereof.

(Added to NRS by 1973, 1247)