§2203. Authorization for preferred provider organizations

            A. Any group purchaser may contract with any provider in any contractual agreement or agreements to form a preferred provider organization.

            B. Such agreement shall not be construed to authorize a group purchaser to furnish medical services unless the purchaser is otherwise licensed to do so, nor shall such agreement authorize a group purchaser to direct or control the provision or selection of forms or types of medical services to the group members.

            C. Group purchaser members participating in preferred provider organizations shall be guaranteed access to their standard benefits under the terms of their policy, employee benefits, self-funded organization benefits, or Taft-Hartley trust benefits, regardless of whether they choose a preferred provider or a provider who does not participate in the preferred provider contract.

            D. Any entity serving as a broker or intermediary under the provisions of R.S. 40:2202(3)(b) who contracts to write or sell insurance shall be subject to the provisions of Title 22 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950. However, any entity which serves as a broker or intermediary for the formation of a preferred provider organization for a governmental body shall not be entitled to collect any fee for serving as such broker or intermediary under this Part.

            E. Any person requiring emergency medical services shall be entitled to use any available provider without being denied the basic benefits provided under his policy or benefits program.

            Added by Acts 1984, No. 374, §1, eff. July 6, 1984; Acts 2018, No. 206, §4.