The legislature finds that increased development of health maintenance organizations, preferred provider plans and limited service health organizations may have the effect of putting small, independent health care providers at a competitive disadvantage with larger health care providers. In order to avoid monopolistic situations and to provide competitive alternatives, it may be necessary for those small, independent health care providers to form joint ventures. The legislature finds that these joint ventures are a desirable means of health care cost containment to the extent that they increase the number of entities with which a health maintenance organization, preferred provider plan or limited service health organization may choose to contract and to the extent that the joint ventures do not violate state or federal antitrust laws.