An insurer or plan which accepts or ratifies a contract for alternative rates known by it to have been executed by a provider prior to the insurer’s or plan’s authorization, in reliance on the representation that it was authorized by such insurer or plan, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 1594, Sec. 13. Effective September 30, 1982. Operative January 1, 1983, by Sec. 82 of Ch. 1594.)