Bill Text: VA SB159 | 2018 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Medical services; Commonwealth's lien for payment, limitations.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2018-03-06 - Left in Appropriations [SB159 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2018-SB159-Engrossed.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§8.01-66.9 and 8.01-66.10 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 8.01-66.10:1 as follows:
§8.01-66.9. Lien in favor of Commonwealth, its programs, institutions or departments on claim for personal injuries.
Whenever any person sustains personal injuries and receives
treatment in any hospital, public or private, or nursing home, or receives
medical attention or treatment from any physician, or receives nursing services
or care from any registered nurse in this the Commonwealth, or
receives pharmaceutical goods or any type of medical or rehabilitative device,
apparatus, or treatment which is paid for pursuant to the Virginia Medical Assistance
Program, the State/Local Hospitalization Program and other programs of the
Department of Medical Assistance Services, the Maternal and Child Health
Program, or the Children's Specialty Services Program, or provided at or paid
for by any hospital or rehabilitation center operated by the Commonwealth, the
Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services or any public institution of
higher education, the Commonwealth shall have a lien for the total amount paid
pursuant to such program, and the Commonwealth or such Department or
institution shall have a lien for the total amount due for the services,
equipment or devices provided at or paid for by such hospital or center
operated by the Commonwealth or such Department or institution, or any portion thereof
compromised pursuant to the authority granted under §2.2-514, on the claim of
such injured person or of his personal representative against the person, firm,
or corporation who is alleged to have caused such injuries.
The Commonwealth or such Department or institution shall also have a lien on the claim of the injured person or his personal representative for any funds which may be due him from insurance moneys received for such medical services under the injured party's own insurance coverage or through an uninsured or underinsured motorist insurance coverage endorsement. The lien granted to the Commonwealth for the total amounts paid pursuant to the Virginia Medical Assistance Program, the State/Local Hospitalization Program and other programs of the Department of Medical Assistance Services, the Maternal and Child Health Program, or the Children's Specialty Services Program shall have priority over the lien for the amounts due for services, equipment or devices provided at a hospital or center operated by the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth's or such Department's or institution's lien shall be inferior to any lien for payment of reasonable attorney's fees and costs, but shall be superior to all other liens created by the provisions of this chapter and otherwise. The lien granted to the Commonwealth for the total amounts paid pursuant to the Virginia Medical Assistance Program shall attach only to the portion of the claim representing the medical expenses incurred by the injured person. Expenses for reasonable legal fees and costs shall be deducted from the total amount recovered. The amount of the lien may be compromised pursuant to §2.2-514.
The court in which a suit by an injured person or his personal
representative has been filed against the person, firm or corporation alleged
to have caused such injuries or in which such suit may properly be filed,
may, upon motion or petition by the injured person, his personal
representative or his attorney, and after written notice is given to all those
holding liens attaching to the recovery, (i) may reduce the amount of
the liens and apportion the recovery, whether by verdict or negotiated
settlement, between the plaintiff, the plaintiff's attorney, and the
Commonwealth or such Department or institution as the equities of the case may
appear, provided that the injured person, his personal representative or
attorney has made a good faith effort to negotiate a compromise pursuant to §
2.2-514 and (ii) shall, in the case of a lien granted to the Commonwealth
for amounts paid for medical expenses pursuant to the Virginia Medical
Assistance Program, reduce the amount of the lien and apportion the recovery by
determining the portion of the recovery representing compensation for such
medical expenses and deducting from such amount the pro rata share of attorney
fees, costs, and expenses incurred by the injured party or his personal
representative. The court shall set forth the basis for any such reduction
in a written order.
§8.01-66.10. Death claims settled by compromise or suit.
In case of personal injuries resulting in death and settlement therefor by compromise or suit under the provisions of §§8.01-50 to 8.01-56, the liens provided for in this article may be asserted against the recovery, or against the estate of the decedent, but not both, except liens granted to the Commonwealth for the total amounts paid pursuant to the Virginia Medical Assistance Program, which may be asserted only against the estate of the decedent. If asserted against the recovery and paid, such liens shall attach pro rata to the amounts received respectively by such beneficiaries as are designated to receive the moneys distributed and in their respective amounts; and such beneficiaries, or the personal representative for their benefit, shall be subrogated to the liens against the estate of such decedent provided for by §64.2-528. In the case of a lien granted to the Commonwealth for the total amounts paid for medical expenses pursuant to the Virginia Medical Assistance Program, the court shall reduce the amount of the lien and apportion the recovery by determining the portion of the recovery representing compensation for such medical expenses and deducting from such amount the pro rata share of attorney fees, costs, and expenses incurred by the decedent or his personal representative.
§8.01-66.10:1. Personal injury claims of infants settled by compromise or suit.
In case of personal injuries to an infant and settlement therefor by compromise or suit in which a lien is granted to the Commonwealth for the total amounts paid for medical expenses pursuant to the Virginia Medical Assistance Program during the infant's minority, the court shall reduce the amount of the lien and apportion the recovery by determining the portion of the recovery representing compensation for such medical expenses and deducting from such amount the pro rata share of attorney fees, costs, and expenses incurred by the parent or guardian of the infant or his personal representative.
[ 2. That the provisions of this act shall not become effective unless an appropriation effectuating the purposes of this act is included in a general appropriation act passed in 2018 by the General Assembly that becomes law. ]
