SB 552 - This act modifies provisions relating to the MO HealthNet Division's authority to collect from third party payers and from workers' compensation beneficiaries. Under this act any third party administrator, administrative service organization, health benefit plan and pharmacy benefits manager shall process and pay all properly submitted MO HealthNet subrogation claims for a period of three years from the date services were provided or rendered, regardless of any other timely filing requirement. The entity shall not deny such claims on the basis of the type or format of the claim form, or a failure to present proper documentation of coverage at the point of sale.
Payments made by the department to or on behalf of a MO HealthNet eligible individual as the result of any workers' compensation injury shall be presumed to be benefits incorrectly paid for purposes of Mo HealthNet estate recovery and shall be considered a debt due the state. Any settlement approved or judgment issued by the administrative law judge shall constitute a judgment of a court on account of benefits incorrectly paid for Mo HealthNet estate recovery purposes.
Any settlement approved or judgment issued by an administrative law judge shall require full repayment of all moneys paid by the department to or on behalf of a person eligible for public assistance as the result of any workers' compensation injury. All moneys repaid to the department shall be allocated as medical expenses in the settlement or judgment. The state shall have a right of subrogation to any funds for medical expenses owed to or received by the employee.
The employer and attorney for an injured worker who is eligible for public assistance as a result of a workers' compensation injury shall give the Department of Social Services thirty days notice of any institution of a proceeding, settlement, or judgment. No such settlement or judgment may be approved or issued by the administrative law judge without the filing of a release from the MO HealthNet division evidencing full repayment of all moneys paid by the department to or on behalf of the worker for the injury.
These provisions are similar to provisions contained in SS/HB 156 and HCS/SS/SCS/SB 306 (2009).
ADRIANE CROUSE