17:48F-1 Definitions relative to prepaid prescription service organizations.

1. As used in this act:

"Affiliate" means a person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the prepaid prescription service organization.

"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance.

"Consumer Price Index" means the medical component of the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, as reported by the United States Department of Labor, shown as an average index for the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island region and the Philadelphia-Wilmington-Trenton region combined.

"Contract holder" means the person or organization which contracts with the prepaid prescription service provider.

"Enrollee" means a person and his dependents who are entitled to benefits provided under a prepaid prescription service organization contract.

"Evidence of coverage" means the certificate, agreement or contract issued pursuant to this act which sets forth the benefits or services to which the enrollee or contract holder is entitled.

"Net equity" means the excess of total assets over total liabilities, excluding liabilities which have been subordinated in a manner acceptable to the commissioner.

"Prepaid prescription service organization" or "organization" means any person, corporation, partnership, or other entity which, in return for a prepayment by a contract holder, undertakes to provide or arrange for the provision of prescription services to enrollees or contract holders. Prepaid prescription service organization shall not include: an entity otherwise authorized or licensed pursuant to the laws of this State or an entity that contracts with such an otherwise authorized or licensed entity, to provide a prescription service on a prepayment or other basis in connection with a health benefits plan; an entity licensed under Title 17 of the Revised Statutes or Title 17B of the New Jersey Statutes to do the business of insurance in this State; a provider or other entity who provides prescription services pursuant to a contract with a prepaid prescription service organization; or an entity which, for a fee, acts as administrator of a self-insured prescription plan on behalf of the self insurer.

"Prescription service" means any benefit or service to be provided to an enrollee or a contract holder by a provider pursuant to a contract with a prepaid prescription service organization. Prescription service includes, but is not limited to, the provision of prescription drugs, utilization review and durable medical goods.

"Provider" means a pharmacist or pharmacy which provides benefits under a prepaid prescription services contract.

"Tangible net equity" means net equity reduced by the value assigned to intangible assets, including, but not limited to, goodwill, going concern value, organizational expense, start-up costs, long-term prepayments of deferred charges, nonreturnable deposits, and obligations of officers, directors, owners, or affiliates, except short-term obligations of affiliates for goods or services arising in the normal course of business which are payable on the same terms as equivalent transactions with nonaffiliates and which are not past due.

L.1997,c.380,s.1.