Sec. 843.103. ACQUISITION AND OPERATION OF FACILITIES; CERTAIN LOANS; COMMISSIONER APPROVAL OF AFFILIATE TRANSACTIONS. (a) A health maintenance organization may:

(1) purchase, lease, construct, renovate, operate, or maintain hospitals or medical facilities and ancillary equipment and other property reasonably required for the principal office of the health maintenance organization or for another purpose necessary in engaging in the business of the health maintenance organization; and

(2) make loans to a medical group, under an independent contract with the group to further its program, or corporations under its control, to acquire or construct medical facilities and hospitals, or to further a program providing health care services to enrollees.

(b) If the exercise of a power granted under Subsection (a) involves an affiliate, as described by Section 823.003, the health maintenance organization before exercising that power shall file notice and adequate supporting information with the commissioner for approval.

(c) The commissioner shall disapprove the exercise of a power described by Subsection (a) that would in the commissioner's opinion:

(1) substantially and adversely affect the financial soundness of the health maintenance organization and endanger its ability to meet its obligations; or

(2) impair the interests of the public or the health maintenance organization's enrollees or creditors in this state.

(d) If the commissioner does not disapprove the exercise of a power described by Subsection (a) before the 31st day after the date notice is filed under this section, the exercise of the power is considered approved. The commissioner may, by official order, delay action as necessary for proper consideration for not more than an additional 30 days.

(e) The commissioner may adopt rules exempting from the filing requirements of Subsection (b) an activity that has a de minimis effect.

Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1419, Sec. 1, eff. June 1, 2003.