(a) Beginning January 31, 2006, a health benefit plan issuer shall, in writing, communicate to each participating provider that enters into or renews a contract with the health benefit plan issuer, the method or methods by which the provider may request an eligibility statement. The health benefit plan issuer may communicate the method or methods a provider may use to request an eligibility statement in existing materials, such as a provider manual, so long as the information is clearly identified and properly captioned with an underlined, bold-faced, or otherwise conspicuous heading.(b) A health benefit plan issuer may accept a request for an eligibility statement by:(1) telephone;(2) Internet website portal; or(3) other electronic means.