(1) Upon notifying a carrier or health care benefit manager of an inquiry or complaint filed with the commissioner pertaining to the conduct of a health care benefit manager identified in the inquiry or complaint, the commissioner must provide notice of the inquiry or complaint to the health care benefit manager. Notice must also be sent to any carrier to which the inquiry or complaint pertains. The commissioner shall respond to and investigate complaints related to the conduct of a health care benefit manager subject to this chapter directly, without requiring that the complaint be pursued exclusively through a contracting carrier.

(2) Upon receipt of an inquiry from the commissioner, a health care benefit manager must provide to the commissioner within fifteen business days, in the form and manner required by the commissioner, a complete response to that inquiry including, but not limited to, providing a statement or testimony, producing its accounts, records, and files, responding to complaints, or responding to surveys and general requests. Failure to make a complete or timely response constitutes a violation of this chapter.

(3) Subject to chapter 48.04 RCW, if the commissioner finds that a health care benefit manager or any person responsible for the conduct of the health care benefit manager's affairs has:

(a) Violated any provision of this chapter or insurance law, or violated any rule, subpoena, or order of the commissioner or of another state's insurance commissioner;

(b) Failed to renew the health care benefit manager's registration;

(c) Failed to pay the registration or renewal fees;

(d) Provided incorrect, misleading, incomplete, or materially untrue information to the commissioner, to a carrier, or to a beneficiary;

(e) Used fraudulent, coercive, or dishonest practices, or demonstrated incompetence, or financial irresponsibility in this state or elsewhere; or

(f) Had a health care benefit manager registration, or its equivalent, denied, suspended, or revoked in any other state, province, district, or territory;

the commissioner may take any combination of the following actions against a health care benefit manager or any person responsible for the conduct of the health care benefit manager's affairs, other than an employee benefits program:

(i) Place on probation, suspend, revoke, or refuse to issue or renew the health care benefit manager's registration;

(ii) Issue a cease and desist order against the health care benefit manager, contracting carrier, or both;

(iii) Fine the health care benefit manager up to five thousand dollars per violation, and the contracting carrier is subject to a fine for acts conducted under the contract;

(iv) Issue an order requiring corrective action against the health care benefit manager, the contracting carrier acting with the health care benefit manager, or both the health care benefit manager and the contracting carrier acting with the health care benefit manager; and

(v) Temporarily suspend the health care benefit manager's registration by an order served by mail or by personal service upon the health care benefit manager not less than three days prior to the suspension effective date. The order must contain a notice of revocation and include a finding that the public safety or welfare requires emergency action. A temporary suspension under this subsection (3)(f)(v) continues until proceedings for revocation are concluded.

(4) A stay of action is not available for actions the commissioner takes by cease and desist order, by order on hearing, or by temporary suspension.

(5)(a) Health carriers and employee benefits programs are responsible for the compliance of any person or organization acting directly or indirectly on behalf of or at the direction of the carrier or program, or acting pursuant to carrier or program standards or requirements concerning the coverage of, payment for, or provision of health care benefits, services, drugs, and supplies.

(b) A carrier or program contracting with a health care benefit manager is responsible for the health care benefit manager's violations of this chapter, including a health care benefit manager's failure to produce records requested or required by the commissioner.

(c) No carrier or program may offer as a defense to a violation of any provision of this chapter that the violation arose from the act or omission of a health care benefit manager, or other person acting on behalf of or at the direction of the carrier or program, rather than from the direct act or omission of the carrier or program.