Connecticut General Statutes 17b-265 – Department subrogated to right of recovery of applicant or recipient. Utilization of personal health insurance. Insurance coverage of medical assistance recipients. Limitations. Allocation of child support oblig…
(a) In accordance with 42 USC 1396k, the Department of Social Services shall be subrogated to any right of recovery or indemnification that an applicant or recipient of medical assistance or any legally liable relative of such applicant or recipient has against an insurer or other legally liable third party including, but not limited to, a self-insured plan, group health plan, as defined in Section 607(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, service benefit plan, managed care organization, health care center, pharmacy benefit manager, dental benefit manager, third-party administrator or other party that is, by statute, contract or agreement, legally responsible for payment of a claim for a health care item or service, for the cost of all health care items or services furnished to the applicant or recipient, including, but not limited to, hospitalization, pharmaceutical services, physician services, nursing services, behavioral health services, long-term care services and other medical services, not to exceed the amount expended by the department for such care and treatment of the applicant or recipient. In the case of such a recipient who is an enrollee in a care management organization under a Medicaid care management contract with the state or a legally liable relative of such an enrollee, the department shall be subrogated to any right of recovery or indemnification which the enrollee or legally liable relative has against such a private insurer or other third party for the medical costs incurred by the care management organization on behalf of an enrollee. Whenever funds owed to a person are collected pursuant to this section and the person who otherwise would have been entitled to such funds is subject to a court-ordered current or arrearage child support payment obligation in an IV-D support case, such funds shall first be paid to the state for reimbursement of Medicaid funds paid on behalf of such person for medical expenses incurred for injuries related to a legal claim by such person that was the subject of the state’s right of subrogation, and remaining funds, if any, shall then be paid to the Office of Child Support Services for distribution pursuant to the federally mandated child support distribution system implemented pursuant to subsection (j) of section 17b-179. Any additional claim of the state to the remainder of such funds, if any, shall be paid in accordance with state law.
Terms Used In Connecticut General Statutes 17b-265
- another: may extend and be applied to communities, companies, corporations, public or private, limited liability companies, societies and associations. See Connecticut General Statutes 1-1
- Beneficiary: A person who is entitled to receive the benefits or proceeds of a will, trust, insurance policy, retirement plan, annuity, or other contract. Source: OCC
- Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
- Entitlement: A Federal program or provision of law that requires payments to any person or unit of government that meets the eligibility criteria established by law. Entitlements constitute a binding obligation on the part of the Federal Government, and eligible recipients have legal recourse if the obligation is not fulfilled. Social Security and veterans' compensation and pensions are examples of entitlement programs.
- Indemnification: In general, a collateral contract or assurance under which one person agrees to secure another person against either anticipated financial losses or potential adverse legal consequences. Source: FDIC
- Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
- Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
- Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
(b) An applicant or recipient or legally liable relative, by the act of the applicant’s or recipient’s receiving medical assistance, shall be deemed to have made a subrogation assignment and an assignment of claim for benefits to the department. The department shall inform an applicant of such assignments at the time of application. Any entitlements from a contractual agreement with an applicant or recipient, legally liable relative or a state or federal program for such medical services, not to exceed the amount expended by the department, shall be so assigned. Such entitlements shall be directly reimbursable to the department by third party payors. The Department of Social Services may assign its right to subrogation or its entitlement to benefits to a designee or a health care provider participating in the Medicaid program and providing services to an applicant or recipient, in order to assist the provider in obtaining payment for such services. In accordance with subsection (b) of section 38a-472, a provider that has received an assignment from the department shall notify the recipient’s health insurer or other legally liable third party including, but not limited to, a self-insured plan, group health plan, as defined in Section 607(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, service benefit plan, managed care organization, health care center, pharmacy benefit manager, dental benefit manager, third-party administrator or other party that is, by statute, contract or agreement, legally responsible for payment of a claim for a health care item or service, of the assignment upon rendition of services to the applicant or recipient. Failure to so notify the health insurer or other legally liable third party shall render the provider ineligible for payment from the department. The provider shall notify the department of any request by the applicant or recipient or legally liable relative or representative of such applicant or recipient for billing information. This subsection shall not be construed to affect the right of an applicant or recipient to maintain an independent cause of action against such third party tortfeasor.
(c) Claims for recovery or indemnification submitted by the department, or the department’s designee, shall not be denied solely on the basis of the date of the submission of the claim, the type or format of the claim, the lack of prior authorization or the failure to present proper documentation at the point-of-service that is the basis of the claim, if (1) the claim is submitted by the state within the three-year period beginning on the date on which the item or service was furnished; and (2) any action by the state to enforce its rights with respect to such claim is commenced within six years of the state’s submission of the claim.
(d) When a recipient of medical assistance has personal health insurance in force covering care or other benefits provided under such program, payment or part-payment of the premium for such insurance may be made when deemed appropriate by the Commissioner of Social Services. The commissioner shall limit reimbursement to medical assistance providers for coinsurance and deductible payments under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to assure that the combined Medicare and Medicaid payment to the provider shall not exceed the maximum allowable under the Medicaid program fee schedules.
(e) No self-insured plan, group health plan, as defined in Section 607(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, service benefit plan, managed care plan, or any plan offered or administered by a health care center, pharmacy benefit manager, dental benefit manager, third-party administrator or other party that is, by statute, contract or agreement, legally responsible for payment of a claim for a health care item or service, shall contain any provision that has the effect of denying or limiting enrollment benefits or excluding coverage because services are rendered to an insured or beneficiary who is eligible for or who received medical assistance under this chapter. No insurer, as defined in section 38a-497a, shall impose requirements on the state Medicaid agency, which has been assigned the rights of an individual eligible for Medicaid and covered for health benefits from an insurer, that differ from requirements applicable to an agent or assignee of another individual so covered.
(f) The Commissioner of Social Services shall not pay for any services provided under this chapter if the individual eligible for medical assistance has coverage for the services under an accident or health insurance policy.
(g) An insurer or other legally liable third party, upon receipt of a claim submitted by the department or the department’s designee, in accordance with the requirements of subsection (c) of this section, for payment of a health care item or service covered under a state medical assistance program administered by the department, shall, not later than ninety days after receipt of the claim or not later than ninety days after the effective date of this section, whichever is later, (1) make payment on the claim, (2) request information necessary to determine its legal obligation to pay the claim, or (3) issue a written reason for denial of the claim. Failure to pay, request information necessary to determine legal obligation to pay or issue a written reason for denial of a claim not later than one hundred twenty days after receipt of the claim, or not later than one hundred twenty days after the effective date of this section, whichever is later, creates an uncontestable obligation to pay the claim. The provisions of this subsection shall apply to all claims, including claims submitted by the department or the department’s designee prior to July 1, 2021.
(h) On and after July 1, 2021, an insurer or other legally liable third party who has reimbursed the department for a health care item or service paid for and covered under a state medical assistance program administered by the department shall, upon determining it is not liable and at risk for cost of the health care item or service, request any refund from the department not later than twelve months from the date of its reimbursement to the department.