00 CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 426(FIN) 01 "An Act relating to cooperation of insurers with the Department of Health and Social 02 Services; relating to subrogation, assignment, and lien rights and notices for medical 03 assistance claims; relating to recovery of medical assistance overpayments; relating to 04 asset transfers by medical assistance applicants; relating to medical assistance eligibility; 05 relating to home and community-based services; relating to medical assistance coverage 06 for persons under 21 years of age; requiring a report by the Department of Health and 07 Social Services; and providing for an effective date." 08 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 09 * Section 1. AS 21.09 is amended by adding a new section to read: 10 Sec. 21.09.240. Cooperation with the Department of Health and Social  11 Services. An insurer, including a pharmacy benefits manager, shall coordinate benefits 12 with medical assistance programs under AS 47.07, and shall cooperate with the 13 Department of Health and Social Services by providing 01 (1) requested information on an insured who is receiving public 02 assistance and on claims made by the department as long as the department agrees to 03 keep the information confidential; 04 (2) prompt verification of an assignment to and right of recovery for 05 the department; and 06 (3) a claim period of at least 36 months from the date of service for 07 eligible claims made by the department. 08  * Sec. 2. AS 47.05.070(b) is amended to read: 09 (b) If the department provides or pays for medical assistance for injury or 10 illness under this title, the department is subrogated to the rights of the recipient of that 11 medical assistance for any claim arising from the injury or illness and to the proceeds 12 of an insurance policy covering the injury or illness to the extent of the value of the 13 medical assistance provided. [A RECIPIENT OF MEDICAL ASSISTANCE OR THE 14 RECIPIENT'S ATTORNEY MUST NOTIFY THE DEPARTMENT IN WRITING 15 OF ANY ACTION OR CLAIM AGAINST A THIRD-PARTY PAYOR IF 16 MEDICAL ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO TREAT 17 AN INJURY OR ILLNESS FOR WHICH THE THIRD PARTY MAY BE LIABLE.] 18 Notwithstanding the assertion of any action or claim by the recipient of medical 19 assistance, the department may bring an action in the superior court against an alleged 20 third-party payor to recover an amount subrogated to the department for medical 21 assistance provided on behalf of a recipient. 22  * Sec. 3. AS 47.05 is amended by adding new sections to read: 23 Sec. 47.05.071. Duty of a medical assistance recipient. (a) A medical 24 assistance recipient shall cooperate with and assist the department in identifying and 25 providing information concerning third parties who may be liable to pay for care and 26 services received by the recipient under the medical assistance program. 27 (b) A medical assistance recipient may not compromise or resolve an action or 28 claim seeking payment for or related to an injury or illness for which care or services 29 were provided or received under the medical assistance program against an insurer, 30 entity, or other person without first providing notice to the attorney general's office of 31 the facts and circumstances giving rise to the action or claim and the asserted basis for 01 supporting the action or claim. 02 (c) A medical assistance recipient may not receive payment from any source 03 on account of or related to care or services for which medical assistance was received 04 unless the recipient has received written consent of the attorney general's office and 05 has paid the department reimbursement of the amount of medical assistance provided 06 or paid. 07 (d) As a condition of medical assistance eligibility, a person who applies for 08 medical assistance shall, at the time of application, 09 (1) assign to the department the applicant's rights of payment for care 10 and services from any third party; 11 (2) cooperate with and assist the department in identifying and 12 providing information concerning third parties who may be liable to pay for care and 13 services received by the recipient under the medical assistance program; 14 (3) assign to the department the applicant's right to the applicant's 15 permanent fund dividend and agree to sign a new assignment each year; the 16 department shall use the assignment obtained under this paragraph to obtain 17 reimbursement or enforce repayment when a recipient does not pay to the state 18 reimbursement received from a third party for care or services provided or paid by the 19 medical assistance program or fails to satisfy a lien perfected under AS 47.05.075; and 20 (4) agree to make application for all other available third-party 21 resources that may be used to provide or pay for the cost of care or services received 22 by the medical assistance recipient or that may be used to finance reimbursement to 23 the state for the cost of care or services received by the medical assistance recipient. 24 Sec. 47.05.072. Duty of attorney for medical assistance recipient. (a) Before 25 pursuing an action or claim on behalf of a medical assistance recipient for care or 26 services for an injury or illness for which medical assistance was received, an attorney 27 representing the medical assistance recipient shall notify the attorney general's office. 28 (b) The notice to the attorney general's office required under (a) of this section 29 includes submission of the following: 30 (1) identification of the medical assistance recipient's name, last 31 known address, and telephone number, and the date of the injury or illness giving rise 01 to the action or claim; 02 (2) copies of the pleadings and other papers related to the action or 03 claim; 04 (3) the identification of each potentially liable third party, including 05 that party's name, last known address, and telephone number; 06 (4) the identification of any insurance policy potentially responsive to 07 the action or claim; and 08 (5) a description of the facts and circumstances supporting the action 09 or claim. 10 (c) An attorney who represents a medical assistance recipient shall give the 11 attorney general's office 30 days' notice before any judgment, award, or settlement 12 may be satisfied in an action or claim by the medical assistance recipient to recover 13 damages for an injury or illness that has resulted in the department's providing or 14 paying for medical assistance. 15 (d) An attorney representing a medical assistance recipient who has received 16 care or services for the injury or illness provided or paid for by the medical assistance 17 program shall maintain all proceeds paid in connection with the action or claim in a 18 trust account or deposit the proceeds into the registry of the court until any lien 19 perfected by the department under AS 47.05.075 is satisfied or, if a lien has not been 20 filed under AS 47.05.075, 60 days from the attorney's receipt of the proceeds. 21 (e) Notwithstanding AS 47.05.070(c), for pro rata reduction of the 22 department's lien if an attorney fails to comply with this section, 23 (1) the department is entitled to and shall collect the full lien amount 24 from the judgment, award, or settlement; 25 (2) if the attorney has already received payment for the attorney's 26 services through the pro rata reduction as provided in AS 47.05.070(c), the attorney is 27 civilly liable to the department for the amount of that payment. 28 (f) If a medical assistance recipient is handling the action or claim on a pro se 29 basis, the provisions of this section apply as if the medical assistance recipient were an 30 attorney representing the medical assistance recipient. 31 Sec. 47.05.073. Judgment, award, or settlement of a medical assistance  01 lien. (a) An action or claim brought by a medical assistance recipient or an attorney 02 who represents the medical assistance recipient against a third party or insurer may not 03 be compromised or discharged without the express written consent of the attorney 04 general. 05 (b) A judgment, award, or settlement that requires or results in the 06 compromise of a lien under AS 47.05.075 may not be entered into or granted by a 07 court without the express written consent of the attorney general. 08 (c) A medical assistance recipient may not maintain any rights to payment as a 09 result of a judgment, award, or settlement of an action or claim for which another 10 person may be legally obligated to pay without first making full repayment to the 11 department for costs of past medical assistance services provided to or paid for by the 12 medical assistance recipient that relate to that action or claim. 13 (d) A medical assistance recipient may not place any payment as a result of a 14 judgment, award, or settlement of an action or claim for which another person was 15 legally obligated to pay because of injury or illness into any trust for the purpose of 16 maintaining public assistance or medical assistance eligibility without first 17 (1) making full repayment to the department for costs of past medical 18 assistance services provided to the medical assistance recipient related to that action or 19 claim; and 20 (2) obtaining the express written consent of the attorney general. 21 (e) The department's recovery under a subrogation right, assignment, or 22 enforcement of a lien shall be applied to the entire payment made in satisfaction of 23 judgment, award, or settlement. 24 (f) The doctrine of equitable subrogation, the equitable made whole doctrine, 25 or the common fund doctrine may not be applied to defeat, reduce, limit, or prorate 26 any recovery by the department based upon its subrogation rights, assignment, or lien, 27 or the medical assistance recipient's obligation of repayment. 28 (g) The attorney general may only discharge or give written consent related to 29 a medical assistance lien under AS 47.05.075 if the discharge or consent complies 30 with federal law. 31 Sec. 47.05.074. Conflict with federal requirements. If any provision of this 01 chapter related to subrogation, assignment, or lien conflicts with federal law 02 concerning the Medicaid program or receipt of federal money to finance the medical 03 assistance program, the provision does not apply to the extent of the conflict. 04  * Sec. 4. AS 47.05.075(d) is amended to read: 05 (d) A perfected lien under this section has priority over all other liens except  06 tax liens and a lien perfected for attorney fees and costs [IMMEDIATELY AFTER 07 A LIEN PERFECTED BY A HOSPITAL, NURSE, OR PHYSICIAN UNDER 08 AS 34.35.450 - 34.35.480]. 09  * Sec. 5. AS 47.05.080(a) is amended to read: 10 (a) Benefit overpayments collected by the department in administering 11 programs under AS 47.07 (medical assistance), AS 47.25.120 - 47.25.300 (general 12 relief), AS 47.25.430 - 47.25.615 (adult public assistance), AS 47.25.975 - 47.25.990 13 (food stamps), and 47.27 (Alaska temporary assistance program) shall be remitted to 14 the Department of Revenue under AS 37.10.050(a), except for overpayments  15 recovered under AS 47.07 that cover the value of services paid from federal  16 sources. 17  * Sec. 6. AS 47.07.020(f) is amended to read: 18 (f) A person may not be denied eligibility for medical assistance under this 19 chapter on the basis of a diversion of income or transfer of assets, whether by 20 assignment or after receipt of the income, into a Medicaid-qualifying trust or annuity 21 that, according to a determination made by the department, 22 (1) has provisions that require that the state will receive all of the trust 23 or annuity assets remaining at the death of the individual, subject to a maximum 24 amount that equals the total medical assistance paid on behalf of the individual; and 25 (2) otherwise meets the requirements of 42 U.S.C. 1396p(d)(4) for a  26 trust and 42 U.S.C. 1396p(c)(1)(F) and 42 U.S.C.1396p(e)(1) for an annuity.  27  * Sec. 7. AS 47.07.020 is amended by adding new subsections to read: 28 (j) A person may not apply for medical assistance coverage on behalf of a 29 child under 18 years of age who is not emancipated unless the person is the parent or 30 legal guardian of the child or, if the parent or legal guardian can be contacted and 31 consents to the application and the person is 01 (1) an adult caretaker relative who lives with the child and who is 02 exercising care and control of the child; or 03 (2) an employee of the department who is applying on behalf of a child 04 who is in the custody of the department. 05 (k) A child who is unemancipated may apply for medical assistance coverage 06 on the child's own behalf if the parent or legal guardian of the child consents to the 07 application. The department may waive consent under this section if the child 08 expresses a reasonable fear of the child's parent or legal guardian or the department 09 has been unable to contact the parent or legal guardian after the department has made 10 reasonable efforts to do so. If a waiver of consent is granted, the department shall 11 document the reason for the waiver in the child's medical assistance record. 12 (l) Notwithstanding the eligibility provisions under (a) and (b) of this section, 13 a person may not receive medical assistance under this section unless the person first 14 enrolls in the Medicare program under 42 U.S.C. 1395 to the extent that the person is 15 eligible to receive benefits and services under the program. 16 (m) Except as provided in (g) of this section, the department shall impose a 17 penalty period of ineligibility for the transfer of an asset for less than fair market value 18 by an applicant or an applicant's spouse consistent with 42 U.S.C. 1396p(c)(1). 19 (n) Except as provided under 42 U.S.C. 1396p(f) and 42 U.S.C. 1396u-1, the 20 department shall include as an asset for eligibility purposes the value of an applicant's 21 home if the equity value in the home exceeds $500,000 at the time the application is 22 completed. Nothing in this subsection prohibits an applicant from reducing the equity 23 value in the applicant's home by selling the home or by taking out a loan that affects 24 the equity. 25  * Sec. 8. AS 47.07 is amended by adding a new section to read: 26 Sec. 47.07.045. Home and community-based services. (a) The department 27 may provide home and community-based services under a waiver in accordance with 28 42 U.S.C. 1396 - 1396p (Title XIX, Social Security Act), this chapter, and regulations 29 adopted under this chapter, if the department has received approval from the federal 30 government and the department has appropriations allocated for the purpose. To 31 supplement the standards in (b) of this section, the department shall establish in 01 regulation additional standards for eligibility and payment for the services. 02 (b) Before the department may terminate payment for services provided under 03 (a) of this section, 04 (1) the recipient must have had an annual assessment to determine 05 whether the recipient continues to meet the standards under (a) of this section; 06 (2) the annual assessment must have been reviewed by an independent 07 qualified health care professional under contract with the department; for purposes of 08 this paragraph, "independent qualified health care professional" means, 09 (A) for a waiver based on mental retardation or developmental 10 disability, a person who is qualified under 42 CFR 483.430 as a mental 11 retardation professional; 12 (B) for other allowable waivers, a registered nurse licensed 13 under AS 08.68 who is qualified to assess children with complex medical 14 conditions, older Alaskans, and adults with physical disabilities for medical 15 assistance waivers; and 16 (3) the annual assessment must find that the recipient's condition has 17 materially improved since the previous assessment; for purposes of this paragraph, 18 "materially improved" means that a recipient who has previously qualified for a 19 waiver for 20 (A) a child with complex medical conditions, no longer needs 21 technical assistance for a life-threatening condition, and is expected to be 22 placed in a skilled nursing facility for less than 30 days each year; 23 (B) mental retardation or developmental disability, no longer 24 needs the level of care provided by an intermediate care facility for the 25 mentally retarded either because the qualifying diagnosis has changed or the 26 recipient is able to demonstrate the ability to function in a home setting without 27 the need for waiver services; or 28 (C) an older Alaskan or adult with a physical disability, no 29 longer has a functional limitation or cognitive impairment that would result in 30 the need for nursing home placement, and is able to demonstrate the ability to 31 function in a home setting without the need for waiver services. 01  * Sec. 9. AS 47.05.070(e) is repealed. 02  * Sec. 10. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 03 read: 04 APPLICABILITY. Sections 2 - 4 of this Act apply to a cause of action related to a 05 subrogation, assignment, or lien by the Department of Health and Social Services that accrues 06 on or after the effective date of this Act. 07  * Sec. 11. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 08 read: 09 REPORT. The Department of Health and Social Services shall prepare a report and 10 deliver the report to the legislature not later than the first day of the First Regular Session of 11 the Twenty-Fifth Alaska State Legislature. The report must include recommendations for 12 statutory, regulatory, and systematic changes that will 13 (1) assist the department in reducing medical assistance expenditures for 14 services received in residential psychiatric treatment centers and substance abuse treatment 15 facilities; 16 (2) enhance and clarify parental financial responsibility for children receiving 17 residential psychiatric treatment center and substance abuse treatment facilities services; and 18 (3) maximize all third-party resources available to pay for the cost of 19 residential psychiatric treatment center and substance abuse treatment facilities services 20 before a provider seeks reimbursement under AS 47.07. 21  * Sec. 12. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 22 read: 23 TRANSITION: REGULATIONS FOR HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED 24 SERVICES. To the extent that regulations on home and community-based services that are in 25 effect on the effective date of sec. 8 of this Act are not inconsistent with the language and 26 purposes of sec. 8 of this Act, those regulations remain in effect as valid regulations 27 implementing sec. 8 of this Act. 28  * Sec. 13. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 29 read: 30 STATE PLAN. (a) The Department of Health and Social Services shall immediately 31 apply for federal approval of a revised state plan to implement the changes to the medical 01 assistance program made under secs. 1 - 7 and 9 of this Act. 02 (b) The commissioner of health and social services shall notify the revisor of statutes 03 of the date of the federal approval of the revised state plan submitted under (a) of this section. 04  * Sec. 14. Sections 8 and 12 of this Act take effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c). 05  * Sec. 15. Except as provided in sec. 14 of this Act, this Act takes effect July 1, 2006, or on 06 the date of notification under sec. 13 of this Act of federal approval of a revised state plan for 07 medical assistance coverage incorporating the changes made by secs. 1 - 7 and 9 of this Act, 08 whichever is later.