§ 42-14.5-1.1. Legislative findings. The general assembly hereby finds and declares as follows:

(1) A substantial amount of health care services in this state are purchased for the benefit of patients by health care insurers engaged in the provision of health care financing services or is otherwise delivered subject to the terms of agreements between health care insurers and providers of the services.

(2) Health care insurers are able to control the flow of patients to providers of health care services through compelling financial incentives for patients in their plans to utilize only the services of providers with whom the insurers have contracted.

(3) Health care insurers also control the health care services rendered to patients through utilization review programs and other managed care tools and associated coverage and payment policies.

(4) By incorporation or merger the power of health care insurers in markets of this state for health care services has become great enough to create a competitive imbalance, reducing levels of competition and threatening the availability of high quality, cost-effective health care.

(5) The power of health care insurers to unilaterally impose provider contract terms may jeopardize the ability of physicians and other health care providers to deliver the superior quality health care services that have been traditionally available in this state.

(6) It is the intention of the general assembly to authorize health care providers to jointly discuss with health care insurers topics of concern regarding the provision of quality health care through a committee established by an advisory to the health insurance commissioner.

History of Section. (P.L. 2005, ch. 273, § 2; P.L. 2005, ch. 274, § 2.)