§ 131E-7.1. Public hospitals' managed care development authorized.

§ 131E‑7.1.  Publichospitals' managed care development authorized.

A public hospital as defined in G.S. 159‑39(a) may acquire anownership interest, in whole or in part, in a nonprofit or for‑profitmanaged care company, including a health maintenance organization, physicianhospital organization, physician organization, management servicesorganization, or preferred provider organization with which the public hospitalis also directly or indirectly a contracting provider. Ownership interest maybe evidenced by the ownership or acquired by the purchase of stock. Thisownership or acquisition of stock is the exercise of a health care function andis not the investment of idle funds within the meaning of G.S. 159‑30 andG.S.159‑39(g). (1995 (Reg. Sess., 1996), c. 713, s. 1.)