48.31C.010 - Definitions.

Definitions.

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

     (1) "Acquisition" or "acquire" means an agreement, arrangement, or activity, the consummation of which results in a person acquiring directly or indirectly the control of another person, and includes but is not limited to the acquisition of voting securities, all or substantially all of the assets, bulk reinsurance, consolidations, affiliations, and mergers.

     (2) "Affiliate" of, or person "affiliated" with, a specific person, means a person who directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the person specified.

     (3) "Control," including the terms "controlling," "controlled by," and "under common control with," means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person whether through the ownership of voting securities, voting rights, by contract other than a commercial contract for goods, nonmanagement services, a debt obligation which is not convertible into a right to acquire a voting security, or otherwise, unless the power is the result of an official position with or corporate office held by the person.

     (a) For a for-profit person, control is presumed to exist if a person, directly or indirectly, owns, controls, holds with the power to vote, or holds proxies representing, ten percent or more of the voting securities of any other person. This presumption may be rebutted by a showing that control does not exist in fact. A person may file with the commissioner a disclaimer of control of a health carrier. The disclaimer must fully disclose all material relationships and bases for affiliation between the person and the health carrier as well as the basis for disclaiming the control. After furnishing all persons in interest notice and opportunity to be heard and making specific findings of fact to support such a determination, the commissioner may:

     (i) Allow a disclaimer; or

     (ii) Disallow a disclaimer notwithstanding the absence of a presumption to that effect.

     (b) For a nonprofit corporation organized under chapters 24.03 and 24.06 RCW, control is presumed to exist if a person, directly or indirectly, owns, controls, holds with the power to vote, or holds proxies representing a majority of voting rights of the person or the power to elect or appoint a majority of the board of directors, trustees, or other governing body of the person, unless the power is the result of an official position of, or corporate office held by, the person.

     (c) Control includes either permanent or temporary control, or both.

     (4) "Domestic health carrier" means a health care service contractor as defined in RCW 48.44.010, or a health maintenance organization as defined in RCW 48.46.020, that is formed under the laws of this state.

     (5) "Foreign health carrier" means a health care service contractor as defined in RCW 48.44.010, or a health maintenance organization as defined in RCW 48.46.020, that is formed under the laws of the United States, of a state or territory of the United States other than this state, or the District of Columbia.

     (6) "Health carrier holding company system" means two or more affiliated persons, one or more of which is a health care service contractor or health maintenance organization.

     (7) "Health coverage business" means the business of a disability insurer authorized under chapter 48.05 RCW, a health care service contractor registered under chapter 48.44 RCW, and a health maintenance organization registered under chapter 48.46 RCW, entering into any policy, contract, or agreement to arrange, reimburse, or pay for health care services.

     (8) "Involved carrier" means an insurer, health care service contractor, or health maintenance organization, which either acquires or is acquired, is affiliated with an acquirer or acquired, or is the result of a merger.

     (9) "Person" means an individual, corporation, partnership, association, joint stock company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated organization, similar entity, or any combination acting in concert, but does not include a joint venture partnership exclusively engaged in owning, managing, leasing, or developing real or personal property.

     (10) "Security holder" of a specified person means one who owns a security of that person, including (a) common stock, (b) preferred stock, (c) debt obligations convertible into the right to acquire voting securities, and any other security convertible into or evidencing the right to acquire (a) through (c) of this subsection.

     (11) "Subsidiary" of a specified person means an affiliate controlled by that person directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries.

     (12) "Voting security" includes a security convertible into or evidencing a right to acquire a voting security.

[2001 c 179 § 1.]