Section 10821 Of Article 3. Regulation From California Insurance Code >> Division 2. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 9. >> Article 3.
10821
. (a) An entity seeking to obtain a certificate of
registration to act as a purchasing alliance shall complete and file
with the commissioner an application designated by the commissioner.
An application will not be deemed filed until all information
necessary to properly process the application has been received by
the commissioner.
(b) Upon filing, the commissioner shall make a determination
concerning the application and provide notice of file determination
to the applicant within 180 days of the date the application is
deemed filed. If approved, a copy of a certificate of registration,
in a form designed by the commissioner, shall be provided to the
purchasing alliance. The certificate of registration shall serve as
authorization to operate pursuant to this chapter.
(c) A purchasing alliance shall maintain a minimum net worth of
forty thousand dollars ($40,000) plus one months operating expenses
as reserves. Net worth is defined as the excess of admitted assets
over all liabilities.
(d) A purchasing alliance shall at all times maintain current
assets of at least ten thousand dollars ($10,000) in excess of
current liabilities, as such current assets and liabilities may be
defined pursuant to regulations made by the commissioner. In making
those regulations, the commissioner shall be guided by generally
accepted accounting principles followed by certified public
accountants in this state.
(e) The entity that is seeking to obtain a certificate of
registration to act as a purchasing alliance shall file with the
commissioner the following information or documents:
(1) At the time of initial registration, the entity shall provide
a written description as to how the entity intends to meet the public
policy objectives of increased access and improved quality of health
care services.
The written description shall also demonstrate that the purchasing
alliance will have the technical expertise and physical capacity to
serve employers or small employers and their eligible employees in
this state.
The written description shall also describe the scope of services
to be offered in this state and the resources and expertise to be
used to implement and administer those services.
(2) Current partnership agreements, articles of incorporation,
trust documents, or similar documents establishing the group.
(3) Current bylaws of the group.
(4) A statement of grievance procedures relative to the
eligibility, enrollment, premium collection, and administrative
services provided by the alliance.
(5) A statement of enrollment procedures and requirements,
including participation and contribution rules and requirements.
(6) A statement of disenrollment criteria and procedures.
(7) A statement of payment procedures, late payment procedures,
and grace periods.
(8) A purchasing alliance shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of
the commissioner that its governance makes it an appropriate and
effective representative of employers or small employers and their
eligible employees' interests throughout this state. A purchasing
alliance shall organize and facilitate competition between multiple
unaffiliated carriers.
(9) A list of owners, partners, officers, and directors of the
applicant and the contracted management company or third-party
administrator, if such are employed, and personal biographical
information or firm descriptions for each. The owners, partners,
officers, directors, and contracted managers and administrators shall
not have a prior record of administrative, civil, or criminal
violations within any financial service industry.
The personal biographical information and firm descriptions shall
demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that those involved in
the operation of the alliance have the expertise, experience, and
character to effectively and professionally represent employers or
small employers and their eligible employees in a fiduciary capacity.
(10) Evidence of adequate security and prudence in the accounting,
deposit, collection, handling, and transfer of moneys. A purchasing
alliance shall affirmatively demonstrate adequate financial controls
to the satisfaction of the commissioner as a condition of being
issued a certificate of registration.
(11) A description of the employers or small employers and their
eligible employees to which the purchasing alliance will be
marketing. A purchasing alliance shall demonstrate to the
satisfaction of the commissioner that it will fairly and
affirmatively offer, market, and sell all of its available small
employer health benefit plan products to all small employers
throughout all the service regions in this state.
(12) Disclosure of any preexisting oral or written agreements.
(13) Any other information required by the commissioner deemed
pertinent to the policies and operation of the alliance.
(f) Thirty days prior to any amendment or modification to any of
the documents submitted pursuant to subdivision (e), the alliance
shall file with the commissioner a copy of the amended or modified
document. Any amendment or modification shall be deemed approved if
the commissioner has not disapproved the document within 30 days.