(a) A health maintenance organization that denies a contract to a physician or provider who initially applies to contract with the health maintenance organization to provide health care services on behalf of the health maintenance organization shall provide to the applicant written notice of the reasons the initial application was denied.
(b) Unless otherwise limited by Article 21.52B, this section does not prohibit a health maintenance organization from rejecting an initial application from a physician or provider based on the determination that the plan has sufficient qualified physicians or providers.
(c) A health maintenance organization may not deny a contract to a podiatrist described by Section 843.319.