SECTION 77.
Section 6 of said chapter 118G is hereby amended by inserting after the third paragraph, as so appearing, the following paragraph:-
The division shall ensure the timely reporting of information required under this section. The division shall notify payers of any applicable reporting deadlines. The division may assess penalties against any private health care payer that fails to meet a reporting deadline. The division shall notify, in writing, a private health care payer that it has failed to meet a reporting deadline and that failure to respond within 2 weeks of the receipt of the notice may result in penalties. A payer that fails, without just cause, to provide the requested information within 2 weeks following receipt of the written notice required under this paragraph may be assessed a penalty of up to $1,000 per week for each week of delay after the 2 week period following the payer's receipt of the written notice; provided, however, that the maximum annual penalty against a private payer under this section shall be $50,000. Amounts collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the General Fund.