Sec. 1. 24-A MRSA §4315 is enacted to read:

§4315. Health plans sponsored by agricultural cooperatives

A carrier authorized to do business in this State that belongs to and shares trademarks of the same national association of carriers as a carrier underwriting a group health plan sponsored by an agricultural cooperative association located outside of this State shall provide access to its provider network to the members of that agricultural cooperative residing in this State who are covered by the group health plan sponsored by the out-of-state agricultural cooperative association and approved by the superintendent.__ The carrier shall make its provider network available under the same terms and conditions as the carrier makes its provider network available to other members of the national association in connection with their national accounts.

SUMMARY

This bill requires a carrier located in this State to make its provider network available to members receiving health coverage in this State under a group health plan sponsored by an agricultural cooperative if the carrier belongs to the same association as the out-of-state carrier underwriting the group health plan of the agricultural cooperative.