(a) A health maintenance organization shall obtain from the Commissioner a certificate of authority to operate as a health maintenance organization before it may issue any contract or certificate to a member, provide any health care services to a member, or otherwise operate in this State.

(b) Except as permitted by the Commissioner and subject to the rules and regulations adopted under this subtitle, a health maintenance organization that does not have a certificate of authority may not contact potential members to discuss the health care services the health maintenance organization proposes to offer if a certificate of authority is granted.