Section 17Sec./Art. 17

Quasi-Judicial Powers. - the Corporation, to carry out its tasks more effectively, shall be vested with the following powers:

a. to conduct investigations for the determination of a question, controversy, complaint, or unresolved grievance brought to its attention, and render decisions, orders, or resolutions thereon. It shall proceed to hear and determine the case even in the absence of any party who has been properly served with notice to appear. It shall conduct its proceedings or any part thereof in public or in executive session; adjourn its hearings to any time and place; refer technical matters or accounts to an expert and to accept his reports as evidence; direct parties to be joined in or excluded from the proceedings; and give all such directions as it may deem necessary or expedient in the determination of the dispute before it;

b. to summon the parties to a controversy, issue subpoenas the attendance and testimony of witnesses or the production of documents and other materials necessary to a just determination of the under investigation;

c. to suspend temporarily, revoke permanently, or restore the accreditation of a health care provider or the right to benefits of a member and/or impose fines after due notice and hearing. the decision shall immediately be executory, even pending appeal, when the public interest so requires and as may be provided for in the implementing rules and regulations. Suspension of accreditation shall not exceed twenty-four (24) months. Suspension of the rights of members shall not exceed six (6) months.

The revocation of a health care provider's accreditation shall operate to disqualify him from obtaining another accreditation in his own name, under a different name, or through another person, whether natural or juridical.

The Corporation shall not be bound by the technical rules of evidence.