DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES

Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance

PROPOSED

PUBLIC NOTICE

DRA 2005 - Third Party Data Exchange

In compliance with the State's Administrative Procedures Act (APA - Title 29, Chapter 101 of the Delaware Code) and under the authority of Title 31 of the Delaware Code, Chapter 5, Section 512, Delaware Health and Social Services (DHSS) / Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance (DMMA) is proposing to amend the Title XIX Medicaid State Plan regarding the DRA 2005 Third Party Data Exchange Mandate.

Any person who wishes to make written suggestions, compilations of data, testimony, briefs or other written materials concerning the proposed new regulations must submit same to Sharon L. Summers, Planning & Policy Development Unit, Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance, 1901 North DuPont Highway, P.O. Box 906, New Castle, Delaware 19720-0906 or by fax to 302-255-4425 by May 31, 2008.

The action concerning the determination of whether to adopt the proposed regulation will be based upon the results of Department and Division staff analysis and the consideration of the comments and written materials filed by other interested persons.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT

The proposed amends the Title XIX Medicaid State Plan to document compliance with Section 6035 of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA). Section 6035 requires States to have laws which mandate that third parties comply with all of the provisions of section 1902(a)(25)(I) of the Social Security Act (the Act).

Statutory Authority

Background

Third Party Liability (TPL) refers to the legal obligation of third parties, i.e., certain individuals, entities, or programs, to pay all or part of the expenditures for medical assistance furnished under a State plan. The Medicaid program by law is intended to be the payer of last resort; that is, all other available third party resources must meet their legal obligation to pay claims before the Medicaid program pays for the care of an individual eligible for Medicaid. Examples of third parties which may be liable to pay for services include private health insurance, Medicare, employment-related health insurance, court-ordered health insurance derived by noncustodial parents, court judgments or settlements from a liability insurer, workers' compensation, first party probate-estate recoveries, long-term care insurance, and other State and Federal programs (unless specifically excluded by Federal statute).

Individuals eligible for Medicaid assign their rights to third party payments to the State Medicaid agency. States are required to take all reasonable measures to ascertain the legal liability of third parties to pay for care and services available under the State plan. Once States have determined that a potentially liable third party exists, the State is required to either "cost avoid" or "pay and chase" claims. Cost avoidance is where the provider of services bills and collects from liable third parties before sending the claim to Medicaid. Pay and chase is utilized when the State Medicaid agency pays the medical bills and then attempts to recover from liable third parties.

Section 6035(b) of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA) created a new subsection (I) in section 1902(a)(25) of the Act. Under that new subsection, States are required to have laws that mandate health insurers or other parties that are legally responsible for payment of a claim for a health care item or service to provide the State with information that enables State Medicaid agencies to determine the existence of third party coverage for Medicaid recipients. States must amend their State plans to include an attestation that the required State law is in place.

The provisions of section 6035 of the DRA were effective January 1, 2006, except where States must pass new laws to comply with the DRA. States that already have the requisite laws should submit an amendment to their State plan as soon as practicable. States that do not currently have the required laws in place should enact the required legislation during their next legislative session and submit a State Plan amendment as soon as the legislation has been enacted.

Summary of Proposed Amendment

House Bill (HB) 101 was signed into law by the Governor on February 4, 2008. HB 101 implements the requirement in the DRA mandate that states have laws in place to require that, as a condition of conducting business in the State, all health insurers provide eligibility and coverage information to the State Medicaid Agency, when the State requests such information. This information exchange will guarantee that third party insurance coverage is exhausted before Medicaid pays for a service for Medicaid recipients who also have third party coverage.

The Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance (DMMA) will amend the Title XIX Medicaid State Plan to provide assurances, satisfactory to the Secretary, that it has laws in effect requiring health insurers (including parties that are legally responsible for payment of a claim for a health care item or service), as a condition of doing business in the state:

(1) To provide, upon request of the state, eligibility and claims payment data with respect to individuals who are eligible for or receiving Medicaid;

(2) To accept an individual’s or other entity’s assignment of rights (i.e., rights to payment from the parties) to the state;

(3) To respond to any inquiry from the state regarding a claim for payment for any health care item or service submitted not later than three years after the date such item or service was provided; and,

(4) To agree not to deny a claim submitted by the state solely on the basis of the date of submission of the claim.

DMMA will also, amend the state plan regarding the frequency of data exchange for health insurance carriers from “biannually” to “No less than once every two (2) months, unless written permission is given in advance by the agency.”

DMMA PROPOSED REGULATIONS #08-12

REVISIONS:

69

Revision: HCFA-PM-94-1 (MB)

FEBRUARY 1994

State/Territory: DELAWARE

Citation-

4.22 Third Party Liability

42 CFR 433.137 (a) The Medicaid agency meets all requirements of:

(1) 42 CFR 433.138 and 433.139.

(2) 42 CFR 433.145 through 433.148.

(3) 42 CFR 433.151 through 433.154.

1902(a)(25)(H) and (I) (4) Sections 1902(a)(25)(H) and (I).

of the Act.

Section 6035 of the (5) Section 6035 of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005

DRA of 2005

42 CFR 433.138(f) (b) Attachment 4.22-A

(1) Specifies the frequency with which data exchanges required

in §433.138(d)(1), (d)(3) and (d)(4) and the diagnosis and

trauma code edits required in §433.138(e) are conducted;

42 CFR 433.138(g)(1)(ii) (2) Describes the methods and the agency uses for meeting

and (2)(ii) the follow-up requirements contained in §433.138(g)(1)(i)

and (g)(2)(i);

42 CFR 433.138(g)(3)(i) (3) Describes the methods the agency uses for following up

and (iii) on information obtained through the State motor vehicle

accident report file data exchange required under

§433.138(d)(4)(ii) and specifies the time frames for

incorporation into the eligibility case file and into its third party

data base and third party recovery unit of all information

obtained through the follow-up that identifies legally liable

third party resources; and

§433.138(g)(4)(i) (4) Describes the methods the agency uses for following up on

through (iii) paid claims under §433.138(e) (methods include a

procedure for periodically identifying those trauma codes that

yield the highest third party collections and giving priority to

following up on those codes) and specifies the time frames

for incorporation into the eligibility case file and into its third

party data base and third party recovery unit of all information

obtained through the follow-up that identified legally liable

third party resources.

(Break in Continuity of Sections)

ATTACHMENT 4.22-A

Page 1

OMB NO.: 0938-0193

STATE PLAN UNDER TITLE XIX OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT

State/Territory: DELAWARE

Requirements for Third Party Liability (TPL) –

Identifying Liable Resources

1. Frequency of TPL Matches Data Exchange Frequency (42 CFR 433.138(f)):

a. SSA wage – quarterly

b. IV-A agency – in Delaware is the same as the Title XIX agency and updates are available, daily

c. State Workmen’s Compensation files – weekly

d. Motor vehicle – not computerized – no match available

e. SWICA – quarterly

f. Health Insurance Carriers – biannually no less than once every two (2) months, unless written

permission is given in advance by the agency

2. Follow-up requirements of 42 CFR 433.138 (g)(1) (i) and (g) (2) (i):

As soon as any matches on employers are received by the Delaware Client Information System (DCIS),

the system will automatically generate a letter to verify health insurance coverage. This action will be

taken within 30 days of the receipt of the match data.

3. State motor vehicle match is unavailable because of the information needed for TPL is not carried in the

State’s motor vehicle automated system. (42 CFR 433.138(g)(3)

4. Trauma code reports are produced weekly by the fiscal agent. The TPL unit sends an accident inquiry

form to the client/provider within two weeks regarding potential TPL. Positive responses result in a request

for claims history and subsequent bills generated to applicable insurance company or attorney. Any

information on ongoing legally liable third party resources is immediately entered into the third party

database, which is part of the Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS). (42 CFR 433.138(g)(4)

(Break in Continuity of Sections)

NEW:

SUPPLEMENT TO ATTACHMENT 4.22

STATE PLAN UNDER TITLE XIX OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT

State/Territory: DELAWARE

STATE LAWS REQUIRING THIRD PARTIES TO PROVIDE

COVERAGE ELIGIBILITY AND CLAIMS DATA

1902(A)(25)(I) The State has in effect laws that require third parties to comply with the provisions,

including those which require third parties to provide the State with coverage, eligibility

and claims data, of 1902(A)(25)(I) of the Social Security Act.