§ 17B:27B-9 — Fiduciary responsibility of third party administrators.

9. a. A third party administrator shall be deemed to act in a fiduciary capacity on behalf of the benefits payer in the receipt and transmittal of the benefits payer's funds, and shall have all responsibility attendant to a fiduciary as established by law. Funds transmitted shall be kept in a separate account and shall not be commingled with any other funds. If an account is jointly held by the administrator and the benefits payer, it shall be deposited in a State or federally chartered insured depository institution, and the administrator shall provide a monthly accounting of all transactions in that account. A benefits payer shall have the responsibility to make funds necessary to pay the claims available to the administrator in a timely manner, as provided in the contract. An administrator shall not be liable to any party for the failure of the benefits payer to make funds available to pay claims. b. An administrator shall maintain in force a fidelity bond in its own name on its officers and employees, in an amount established by the commissioner by regulation. L.2001,c.267,s.9.