When health care services are provided to a person under this chapter who at the time the service is provided has any other contractual or legal entitlement to such services, the director shall have the right to recover from the person, corporation, or partnership who owes such entitlement, the amount which would have been paid to the person entitled thereto, or to a third party in his behalf, or the value of the service actually provided, if the person entitled thereto was entitled to services. The Attorney General may, to recover under this section, institute and prosecute legal proceedings against the person, corporation, or partnership owing such entitlement in the appropriate court in the name of the director.

To the extent permitted by federal law and subject to the director’s prior right to recover upon any contractual or legal entitlement or other third-party liability for the cost incurred in rendering care, the provider of services shall remain entitled to recover remaining unpaid charges to the extent that any third party is obligated to pay the charges by reason of the beneficiary‘s other contractual entitlement. Any claim shall not be permitted to the extent that the claim would reduce the director’s right to recover pursuant to Section 14124.78.

Terms Used In California Welfare and Institutions Code 14024

  • 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
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • department: means the State Department of Health Services. See California Welfare and Institutions Code 14062
  • director: means the State Director of Health Services. See California Welfare and Institutions Code 14061
  • Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
  • 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.
  • Medi-Cal: means the California Medical Assistance Program. See California Welfare and Institutions Code 14063
  • Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
  • Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.

The provider of services shall be required to notify the department of any potential contractual or legal entitlement or other third-party liability within 60 days of discovery. A provider who has obtained proof of Medi-Cal eligibility and who makes a claim for payment by any third party shall disclose in the claim that the patient is a Medi-Cal beneficiary.

(Amended by Stats. 1985, Ch. 776, Sec. 3.)