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

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

      1. (i) is issued:

         1. 1. by the President of the United States under § 201¹, § 202(d),² or § 301³ of the federal National Emergencies Act; or
         2. 2. by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under the federal Public Health Service Act;⁴ and
      2. (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.

2. (b) The regulations may:

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

   2. (2) address:

      1. (i) submission of claims or proof of loss;
      2. (ii) grace periods for payment of premiums and performance of other duties by insureds;
      3. (iii) temporary postponement of cancellations, nonrenewals, premium increases, or policy modifications;
      4. (iv) procedures for obtaining nonelective health care services;
      5. (v) time restrictions for filling or refilling prescription drugs;
      6. (vi) time frames applicable to an action by the Commissioner under this article; and
      7. (vii) any other activity necessary to protect the residents of the State.

3. (c)

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

      1. (i) that the regulation is activated;
      2. (ii) the line or lines of business to which the regulation applies;
      3. (iii) the geographic areas to which the regulation applies; and
      4. (iv) the period of time for which the regulation applies.

   2. (2)

      1. (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.
      2. (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. (3) The Commissioner:

      1. (i) shall provide a copy of the bulletin to the emergency contact designated by the person subject to the bulletin; and
      2. (ii) may post a copy of the bulletin on the Administration's website.

Added by Acts 2008, c. 63, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2008. Amended by Acts 2022, c. 495, § 1, eff. May 29, 2022.

50 U.S.C.A. § 1621

50 U.S.C.A. § 1622(d)

50 U.S.C.A. § 1631

42 U.S.C.A. § 201 et seq.