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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>61098</law_id><section_number>32.1-137.5</section_number><catch_line>Civil penalties; probation; suspension; restriction or prohibition of new enrollments to managed care health insurance plan licensee; revocation or nonrenewal of certificate of quality assurance; appeal process; correction</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>2.2-3705.5</reference><reference>32.1-137.3</reference><reference>32.1-137.4</reference><reference>38.2-5809</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="32.1">Health</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="5">Regulation of Medical Care Facilities and Services</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1.1">Certificate of Quality Assurance of Managed Care Health Insurance Plan Licensees</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> In accordance with applicable regulations of the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> and in consultation with the Bureau of Insurance, the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> (i) may impose civil penalties, which shall not exceed $1,000 per incident of noncompliance, to a maximum of $10,000 for a series of related incidents of noncompliance, (ii) may place a certificate holder on <span class="dictionary">probation</span>, (iii) may temporarily suspend a certificate of quality assurance of a managed care health insurance plan licensee, (iv) may, with the concurrence of the Bureau of Insurance, temporarily restrict or prohibit new enrollments into a managed care health insurance plan, or (v) may revoke or not renew a certificate of quality assurance and certify to the State Corporation Commission that a managed care health insurance plan licensee or its managed care health insurance plan is unable to fulfill its obligations to furnish quality health care services as set forth in this article. Fines payable under this section shall be paid into the Literary Fund. <a id="paragraph-223356" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/32.1-137.5/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> When examination or review or complaint investigation by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> results in a <span class="dictionary">finding</span> of noncompliance with the provisions of this article or the regulations of the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>, the managed care health insurance plan licensee or applicant shall be provided written notice and a report specifying the <span class="dictionary">findings</span> of noncompliance and providing an opportunity to be heard in no fewer than thirty days by the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span>&#x2019;s adjudication officer in a proceeding under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Informal fact finding proceedings" href="/2.2-4019/">2.2-4019</a>. A copy of the notice and report shall be provided to the Bureau of Insurance. Such proceeding shall be separate from the regulatory office of the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> that conducted the examination, review, or investigation and shall be closed and confidential. The records of the proceedings shall be privileged and confidential and shall not be subject to <span class="dictionary">subpoena</span>.
			The adjudication officer shall provide a recommendation to the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span>, including <span class="dictionary">findings</span> of <span class="dictionary">fact</span>, conclusions, and appropriate disciplinary action or <span class="dictionary">sanction</span>. The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall promptly notify the Bureau of Insurance if the recommended disciplinary action or <span class="dictionary">sanction</span> proposes <span class="dictionary">probation</span>, suspension, nonrenewal, or <span class="dictionary">revocation</span> of a certificate of quality assurance, or the temporary restriction or prohibition of new enrollments in a managed care health insurance plan. The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> may <span class="dictionary">affirm</span>, modify, or <span class="dictionary">reverse</span> such recommendation and shall <span class="dictionary">issue</span> a final decision.
			The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span>&#x2019;s decision may be appealed directly to a <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> under Article 4 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Exemptions operation of this article; limitations" href="/2.2-4025/">2.2-4025</a> et seq.) of the Administrative Process Act. The only parties to the case shall be the managed care health insurance plan licensee and the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>. The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall promptly notify the Bureau of Insurance of the commencement and final determination of an <span class="dictionary">appeals</span> proceeding. <a id="paragraph-223357" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/32.1-137.5/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> If a certificate of quality assurance has been revoked or suspended or a certificate holder has been placed on <span class="dictionary">probation</span>, a new certificate may be issued or the suspension may be terminated or the <span class="dictionary">probation</span> removed by the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> after satisfactory <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> is submitted to him that the conditions upon which <span class="dictionary">revocation</span>, suspension, or <span class="dictionary">probation</span> was based have been corrected and after proper examination has been made and compliance with all provisions of this article and the regulations of the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> has been shown. <a id="paragraph-223358" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/32.1-137.5/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1998, c. 891.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
