§ 2-115

(a) The Commissioner shall adopt regulations that may be applied when:

(1) the Governor has declared a state of emergency for the State or an area within the State under § 14–107 of the Public Safety Article;

(2) the President of the United States has issued a major disaster or emergency declaration for the State or an area within the State under the federal Stafford Act; or

(3) a national or public health emergency, that within the Commissioner’s discretion affects the State:

(i) is issued:

1. by the President of the United States under § 201, § 202(d), or § 301 of the federal National Emergencies Act; or

2. by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under the federal Public Health Service Act; and

(ii) is based on a serious threat to health resulting from the existence of a deadly agent as defined in § 14–3A–01 of the Public Safety Article.

(b) The regulations may:

(1) apply to any person regulated by the Commissioner under this article or Title 19, Subtitle 7 of the Health – General Article; and

(2) address:

(i) submission of claims or proof of loss;

(ii) grace periods for payment of premiums and performance of other duties by insureds;

(iii) temporary postponement of cancellations, nonrenewals, premium increases, or policy modifications;

(iv) procedures for obtaining nonelective health care services;

(v) time restrictions for filling or refilling prescription drugs;

(vi) time frames applicable to an action by the Commissioner under this article; and

(vii) any other activity necessary to protect the residents of the State.

(c) (1) To activate a regulation adopted under this section, the Commissioner shall issue a bulletin specifying:

(i) that the regulation is activated;

(ii) the line or lines of business to which the regulation applies;

(iii) the geographic areas to which the regulation applies; and

(iv) the period of time for which the regulation applies.

(2) (i) Except as provided under subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, a regulation activated under paragraph (1) of this subsection may not apply beyond the duration of, or the geographical area included within, the Governor’s or President’s declaration of a state of emergency or disaster.

(ii) A regulation activated under paragraph (1) of this subsection in response to a national or public health emergency described in subsection (a)(3) of this section may not apply beyond the duration of the President’s or Secretary of Health and Human Services’ declaration of a national or public health emergency.

(3) The Commissioner:

(i) shall provide a copy of the bulletin to the emergency contact designated by the person subject to the bulletin; and

(ii) may post a copy of the bulletin on the Administration’s website.