Montana Code Annotated
Part 1. Medical Assistance -- Medicaid
53-6-143. Medical assistance liens and recoveries

53-6-143. Medical assistance liens and recoveries. (1) Except as provided in this section, the department may not impose a lien upon the property of an applicant for or recipient of medical assistance.
(2) A lien for recovery of medical assistance paid or to be paid under this chapter may be imposed against the real or personal property of a medicaid applicant or recipient prior to the applicant's or recipient's death only:
(a) pursuant to a judgment of a court for recovery of medical assistance paid on behalf of the recipient;
(b) on a third-party recovery as provided in 53-2-612;
(c) as provided in 53-6-171 through 53-6-188; or
(d) to the extent that the recipient has received medical assistance based upon resources not disregarded pursuant to part 8 of this chapter.
(3) The department may recover medical assistance correctly paid on behalf of a recipient only as provided in 53-2-612, 53-6-167 through 53-6-169, or 53-6-171 through 53-6-188 or as provided in a written agreement between the department and the recipient or the recipient's representative pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 1382b(b).
(4) Except as otherwise specifically provided by 53-6-144, 53-6-165 through 53-6-169, 53-6-171 through 53-6-189, and this section, the department may pursue recovery under any section or combination of sections as may be applicable in a particular case. However, the department may not recover pursuant to 53-6-167 through 53-6-169 or 53-6-171 through 53-6-188 more than the total amount of recoverable medical assistance paid on behalf of a recipient, plus any applicable costs, interest, or other charges specifically allowed by law. The fact that the department has or may have a lien on particular property does not preclude the department from pursuing recovery under another section against other assets of the recipient or assets of another person as provided in 53-6-144, 53-6-165 through 53-6-169, 53-6-171 through 53-6-189, and this section.
(5) Except as provided in subsections (5)(a) and (5)(b), the department may not impose a lien under this section upon a self-sufficiency trust established pursuant to Title 53, chapter 18, part 1, or upon the assets of a self-sufficiency trust established pursuant to Title 53, chapter 18, part 1.
(a) The department may impose a lien under this section upon a self-sufficiency trust or upon the assets of a self-sufficiency trust established pursuant to Title 53, chapter 18, part 1, if the department is required by federal law to recover or collect from the trust or its assets as a condition of receiving federal financial participation for the medicaid program.
(b) To the extent otherwise permitted by this section, the department is not precluded from asserting a claim or imposing a lien upon real or personal property prior to transfer of the property to the trust. If the department imposes a lien upon property prior to transfer to a self-sufficiency trust, any transfer of the property to the trust is subject to the lien.
History: En. Sec. 14, Ch. 325, L. 1967; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 249, L. 1969; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 279, L. 1974; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 379, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 71-1524; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 482, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 492, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 456, Ch. 546, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 195, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 262, L. 1997.

Structure Montana Code Annotated