(a) The General Assembly finds and declares that it is a vital government concern that the citizens of the State of Georgia have access to quality health care services and that informed consumers will be better able to identify and select plans that offer quality health care services if they are provided specific information before they enroll in health care plans. As the health care market becomes increasingly dominated by health care plans that use managed care techniques that include decisions as to the appropriateness of care, the General Assembly finds and declares that it is a vital government function to protect patients from managed care practices which have the effect of denying or limiting appropriate care. The General Assembly further finds that it is the public policy of the State of Georgia that physicians and health care providers be encouraged to advocate for medically appropriate health care for their patients.

(b) To achieve these ends, the General Assembly declares it necessary for the Commissioner of Insurance to certify qualified managed care plans to conduct business in the State of Georgia and for the Commissioner of Insurance to establish standards for such certification.