ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF PROGRAM.

(a) A federally qualified health center may establish and operate a primary care access program for the provision of primary care services and benefits directly to the employees of participating employers and their dependents within the service area of the federally qualified health center.

(b) A program operated under this chapter shall, within the service area of the federally qualified health center and to the extent practicable:

(1) reduce the number of individuals who lack access to primary care services;

(2) reduce the cost of primary care services for small business employers and their employees;

(3) promote preventive care and reduce the incidence of preventable health conditions, such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and low birth weight in infants;

(4) promote efficient and collaborative delivery of primary care services;

(5) serve as a model for the innovative use of health information technology; and

(6) provide fair payment rates for participating health care providers.

(c) A federally qualified health center may require that participating employees and dependents obtain primary health care services provided under a program only from health care providers at the federally qualified health center.

(d) A federally qualified health center that operates a program under this subchapter is not subject to regulation by the department of insurance as an insurer or health maintenance organization.