Current through Register 1527, August 2, 2024
Section 151.07 - Certification as Group Purchasing Cooperative(1) A Group Purchasing Cooperative must be certified by the Commissioner according to the requirements set forth in 211 CMR 151.00 in order to procure Health Benefit Plans for Eligible Association Members or Qualified Association Members' Eligible Employees and Eligible Dependents.(2) Certification as a Group Purchasing Cooperative pursuant to 211 CMR 151.00 shall remain in effect for 12 months, unless sooner suspended or revoked by the Commissioner.(3) There shall be no more than six certified Group Purchasing Cooperatives operating in the Commonwealth at the same time.(4) Certified Group Purchasing Cooperatives may offer Health Benefit Plans only to Eligible Association Members and Qualified Association Members' Eligible Employees and Eligible Dependents. However, nothing in 211 CMR 151.00 shall prevent a certified Group Purchasing Cooperative from offering other products or insurance to Eligible Association Members and Qualified Association Members' Eligible Employees and Eligible Dependents.(5) The Commissioner shall have the discretion to limit the number of Insureds to whom a certified Group Purchasing Cooperative may offer a Health Benefit Plan.(6) A Massachusetts nonprofit or a Massachusetts not-for-profit corporation or approved Qualified Association may submit an application to be a certified Group Purchasing Cooperative only during time periods as established by the Commissioner, and applications will only be considered if there are fewer than six certified Group Purchasing Cooperatives in existence on the date of receipt of such application by the Division and if there are fewer than 85,000 Insureds participating in certified Group Purchasing Cooperatives.(7) An application to be a certified Group Purchasing Cooperative must be submitted to the Division at least 90 days prior to the date upon which the applicant, if so certified, intends to offer Health Benefit Plans in the Commonwealth.