NONDISCRIMINATION AGAINST PROVIDERS WITHIN A GEOGRAPHIC AREA. (a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no health carrier shall deny a health care provider the right to contract with the health carrier as an in-network provider in any health plan offered and actively marketed by the health carrier within the same geographic area in which the provider’s primary practice is located. For purposes of this section, “geographic area” means the Minnesota specific geographic rating areas established for purposes of insurance rate pricing within the state. (b) The health carrier may require the provider to meet reasonable referral, utilization review, and quality assurance requirements on the same basis as other in-network providers. (c) This section applies to health plans offered by managed care organizations and county-based purchasing plans under a public health care program under chapter 256B.