Powers of insurers and nonprofit hospital, medical-surgical, and health service corporations

(1) An insurance company licensed in this state, or a nonprofit hospital, medical-surgical, and health service corporation authorized to do business in this state, may either directly or through a subsidiary or affiliate, organize and operate a health maintenance organization under the provisions of part 1 of this article and this part 4. Notwithstanding any other law which may be inconsistent, any two or more such insurance companies, nonprofit hospital, medical-surgical, and health service corporations, or subsidiaries or affiliates thereof, may jointly organize and operate a health maintenance organization. An insurance company shall not be considered in violation of the laws regulating insurance by the providing of health care by a health maintenance organization owned or operated by an insurer or a subsidiary thereof.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an insurer or a nonprofit hospital, medical-surgical, and health service corporation may contract with a health maintenance organization to provide insurance or similar protection against the cost of care provided through health maintenance organizations and to provide coverage in the event of the failure of the health maintenance organization to meet its obligations. The enrollees of a health maintenance organization constitute a permissible group under such laws. Among other things, under such contracts, the insurer or nonprofit hospital, medical-surgical, and health service corporation may make benefit payments to health maintenance organizations for health-care services rendered by providers pursuant to contracts with health maintenance organizations.