Section 33-20A-61. Physician contracts

   (a) Every physician contract entered into, amended, extended, or renewed after July 1, 2002, by a carrier shall contain a specific provision which shall provide that, in the event that an insurance carrier, plan, network, panel, or any agent thereof should terminate a physician's contract and thereby affect any enrollee's opportunity to continue receiving health care services from that physician under the plan, any such enrollee who is suffering from and receiving active health care services for a chronic or terminal illness or who is an inpatient shall have the right to continue to receive health care services from that physician for a period of up to 60 days from the date of the termination of the physician's contract. Any enrollee who is pregnant and receiving treatment in connection with that pregnancy at the time of the termination of that enrollee's physician's contract shall have the right to continue receiving health care services from that physician throughout the remainder of that pregnancy, including six weeks' postdelivery care. During such continuation of coverage period, the physician shall continue providing such services in accordance with the terms of the contract applicable at the time of the termination, and the carrier, plan, network, panel, and all agents thereof shall continue to meet all obligations of such physician's contract. The enrollee shall not have the right to the continuation provisions provided in this Code section if the physician's contract is terminated because of the suspension or revocation of the physician's license or if the carrier, plan, network, panel, or any agent thereof determines that the physician poses a threat to the health, safety, or welfare of enrollees.

(b) Every physician contract entered into, amended, extended, or renewed after July 1, 2002, by a carrier shall contain a specific provision which shall provide that, in the event that a physician should terminate his or her contract with an insurance carrier, plan, network, panel, or any agent thereof and thereby affect any enrollee's opportunity to continue receiving health care services from that physician under the plan, any such enrollee who is suffering from and receiving active health care services for a chronic or terminal illness or who is an inpatient shall have the right to receive health care services from that physician for a period of up to 60 days from the date of the termination of the physician's contract. Any enrollee who is pregnant and receiving health care services in connection with that pregnancy at the time of the termination of that enrollee's physician's contract shall have the right to continue receiving health care services from that physician throughout the remainder of that pregnancy, including six weeks' postdelivery care. During such continuation of coverage period, the physician shall continue providing such services in accordance with the terms of the contract applicable at the time of the termination, and the carrier, plan, network, panel, and all agents thereof shall continue to meet all obligations of such physician's contract. The enrollee shall not have the right to the continuation provisions provided in this Code section if the physician terminates his or her contract because of the suspension or revocation of the physician's license or for reasons related to the quality of health care services rendered or issues related to the health, safety, or welfare of enrollees.

Code 1981, § 33-20A-61, enacted by Ga. L. 2002, p. 441, § 9.