AS 21.06.080. General Powers, Duties; Catastrophes.

(a) The director shall enforce the provisions of this title, and shall execute the duties imposed by this title.

(b) The director has the power and authority expressly conferred by or reasonably implied from the provisions of this title.

(c) The director may conduct examinations and investigations of insurance matters, in addition to examinations and investigations expressly authorized, considered proper to determine whether any person has violated a provision of this title or to secure information useful in the lawful administration of its provisions.

(d) If the director determines that a catastrophe has occurred in this state and in good faith believes that the governor or the President of the United States has issued or is about to issue a declaration of disaster, the director may take the action that the director considers necessary to assure that a contract of insurance already issued will be honored under the terms of the contract. Actions that the director may take include emergency orders permitting the immediate licensing of adjusters to facilitate handling of claims, permitting a licensee to open or close an office, permitting a licensee to move or remove a record as required by the existence of the catastrophe, or permitting the issuance by an insurer of checks or drafts drawn on an out-of-state bank in payment of a claim. Until a declaration of the disaster has been lifted, the director may take action to respond to a disaster without a hearing. An action taken under this subsection may not remain in effect more than six months from the date that the director determines that a catastrophe has occurred unless, after a hearing, the director determines that the action is still necessary to respond to the disaster.

(e) The director has such additional powers and duties as may be provided by other laws of this state.

AS 21.06.085. Uniform Data and Procedures For Health Claims.

(a) The director shall adopt by regulation uniform claims forms, uniform standards, and uniform procedures for the processing of data relating to billing for and payment of health care services provided to state residents. A health care insurer shall use the uniform claims forms and comply with the uniform standards and procedures established under this section.

(b) In this section,

(1) "health care insurer" has the meaning given in AS 21.54.500 ;

(2) "health care services" has the meaning given in AS 21.86.900 .

AS 21.06.087. Insurance Report.

(a) The director shall require reporting of and shall compile information necessary to evaluate the effect of the measures enacted in chapter 26, SLA 1997 on the availability and cost of insurance in the state.

(b) Information described in (a) of this section shall be provided by all insurers doing business in this state in the format specified by the director and must include factual information stating premiums, claims, losses, expenses, and solvency of the company as a whole. Information shall be compiled by the division in a way that protects the identity of individual insureds.

(c) The director shall adopt regulations to implement and interpret this section, including requiring insurers doing business in the state to provide information necessary for the division to carry out its responsibilities under (a) and (b) of this section. If there are indications of market disruption, the director may waive all or part of the reporting requirements in this section.

(d) Beginning June 1, 2000, the information compiled under (a) of this section shall be reported annually to the governor and the judiciary committees of both houses of the legislature.

(e) The division may consult with the Alaska Judicial Council when determining what information to require to be reported under (a) - (c) of this section and when implementing the compilation required under (a) of this section.

AS 21.06.090. Regulations.

(a) The director may adopt reasonable regulations to effectuate this title. A regulation may not extend, modify, or conflict with any law of this state or the reasonable implications thereof. Except for regulations adopted under AS 21.06.250 , a regulation affecting a person or matter other than the personnel or the internal affairs of the director's office shall be adopted or amended only after a hearing, of which notice was given as required by AS 21.06.200 . If reasonably possible the director shall set out the proposed regulation or amendment in or with the notice of hearing. A regulation or amendment as to which a hearing is required is not effective until it has been on file as a public record in the director's office for at least 10 days.

(b) In addition to any other penalty provided, wilful violation of a regulation subjects the violator to the administrative penalty prescribed for that violation.

AS 21.06.100. Orders, Notices.

(a) Orders and notices of the director are not effective unless in writing signed by or under the authority of the director.

(b) Every order must state its effective date and must concisely state

(1) its intent or purpose;

(2) the grounds on which it is based;

(3) the provisions of this title under which the action is taken or proposed to be taken; the failure of an order to designate a particular provision of this title does not deprive the director of the right to rely on the particular provision.

(c) Except as may be provided in this title respecting particular procedures, an order or notice may be given by delivery to the person to be ordered or notified or by mailing it, postage prepaid, addressed to the person at the principal place of business as last of record in the director's office. A mailed order or notice is considered given when mailed.