58-67-165. Penalties and enforcement.

(a) The Commissioner may, in addition to or in lieu of suspending or revoking a license under G.S. 58-67-140, proceed under G.S. 58-2-70, provided that the health maintenance organization has a reasonable time within which to remedy the defect in its operations that gave rise to the procedure under G.S. 58-2-70.

(b) Any person who violates this Article or any other provision of this Chapter that expressly applies to health maintenance organizations shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

(c) (1) If the Commissioner shall for any reason have cause to believe that any violation of this Article or any other provision of this Chapter that expressly applies to health maintenance organizations has occurred or is threatened, the Commissioner may give notice to the health maintenance organization and to the representatives or other persons who appear to be involved in such suspected violation to arrange a conference with the alleged violators or their authorized representatives for the purpose of attempting to ascertain the facts relating to such suspected violation, and, in the event it appears that any violation has occurred or is threatened, to arrive at an adequate and effective means of correcting or preventing such violation.

(2) Proceedings under this subsection shall not be governed by any formal procedural requirements, and may be conducted in such manner as the Commissioner may deem appropriate under the circumstances.

(d) (1) The Commissioner may issue an order directing a health maintenance organization or a representative of a health maintenance organization to cease and desist from engaging in any act or practice in violation of the provisions of this Article or any other provision of this Chapter that expressly applies to health maintenance organizations.

(2) Within 30 days after service of the cease and desist order, the respondent may request a hearing on the question of whether acts or practices have occurred that are in violation of this Article or any other provision of this Chapter that expressly applies to health maintenance organizations. The hearing shall be conducted under Article 3A of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes, and judicial review shall be available as provided by Article 4 of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes.

(e) In the case of any violation of the provisions of this Article or any other provision of this Chapter that expressly applies to health maintenance organizations, if the Commissioner elects not to issue a cease and desist order, or in the event of noncompliance with a cease and desist order issued under subsection (d) of this section, the Commissioner may institute a proceeding to obtain injunctive relief, or seeking other appropriate relief, in the Superior Court of Wake County.