(1) The health insurance purchasing group may determine what rating characteristics it will allow in the health benefit plan, including, but not limited to, age, sex, industry, geography, or health.
(2) If health is used as a rating characteristic, then the rates for the size groups two through twenty-five (2-25) will be subject to the small group rating law as required in § 23-86-201 et seq. but may be considered separate from any small groups sold outside the health insurance purchasing group.