=======

art.011/3/019/2/032/1

1-1

ARTICLE 11 AS AMENDED

1-2

RELATING TO MEDICAL ASSISTANCE RECOVERIES

1-3

     SECTION 1. Title 27 of the General Laws entitled “INSURANCE” is hereby amended

1-4

by adding thereto the following chapter:

1-5

     CHAPTER 57.1

1-6

     MEDICAL ASSISTANCE INTERCEPT ACT

1-7

     27-57.1-1. Interception of insurance payments.-- (a) Every domestic insurer or

1-8

insurance company authorized to issue policies of liability insurance pursuant to this title, and

1-9

also any workers' compensation insurer, within thirty (30) days prior to the making of any

1-10

payment equal to or in excess of five hundred dollars ($500) to any claimant, for third party for

1-11

personal injury or workers' compensation benefits under a contract of insurance, shall review

1-12

information provided by the executive office of health and human services pursuant to section 27-

1-13

57.1-4, indicating whether the claimant has received medical assistance in accordance with

1-14

chapter 40-8.

1-15

     (b) If the insurer determines from the information provided by the executive office of

1-16

health and human services pursuant to section 27-57.1-4 that the claimant or payee has not

1-17

received medical assistance, the insurer may make the payment to the claimant in accordance

1-18

with the contract of the insurance.

1-19

     (c) If the insurer determines from the information provided by the executive office of

1-20

health and human services pursuant to section 27-57.1-4 that the claimant or payee has received

1-21

medical assistance, the insurer shall, except to the extent payments are subject to liens, written

1-22

notices, or interests described in section 27-57.1-3, withhold from payment the amount to the

1-23

extent of the distribution for medical assistance as a result of the accident or loss, dating back to

1-24

the date of the incident, pay that amount to the executive office of health and human services and

1-25

pay the balance to the claimant or other persons entitled to it. The executive office of health and

1-26

human services shall provide written notice to the claimant and his or her attorney, if any. The

1-27

notice shall reflect the date, name, social security number, case number, amount of the payment

1-28

being withheld to reimburse the state, reason for payment and opportunity to request a hearing as

1-29

provided for in subsection 27-57.1-1(e). Any insurer or insurance company, its directors, agents,

1-30

and employees and central reporting organizations and their respective employees authorized by

1-31

an insurer to act on its behalf that releases information in accordance with the provisions of this

2-1

chapter, or who withholds an amount from payment based upon the latest information supplied by

2-2

the executive office of health and human services pursuant to section 27-57.1-4 and disburses in

2-3

accordance with section 27-57.1-3, shall be immune from any liability to the claimant, payee lien

2-4

holder, payee who provided written notice, or security interest holder. Any withholding from

2-5

payments in accordance with this chapter and payment made to the executive office of health and

2-6

human services is further subject to the provisions of section 40-6-9, regarding rights of

2-7

assignment and subrogation by medical assistance recipients. Said payments to the executive

2-8

office of health and human services shall be for reimbursement of distributed medical assistance

2-9

incurred as a result of the accident or loss, dating back to the date of the incident.

2-10

     (d) Workers’ compensation claimants who receive medical assistance, provided in

2-11

accordance with chapter 40-8, shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter. However, the

2-12

workers’ compensation reimbursement payments made to the executive office of health and

2-13

human services in accordance with this chapter shall be limited to that set forth in chapter 28-33

2-14

and section 40-6-10.

2-15

     (e) Any claimant aggrieved by any action taken under this section may within thirty (30)

2-16

days of the mailing of the notice to the claimant in subsection (c) of this section, request a hearing

2-17

from the executive office of health and human services. Any payments made by an insurer

2-18

pursuant to this chapter shall be made to the executive office of health and human services,

2-19

should there be no request for a hearing within thirty (30) days of receipt of notice, or within ten

2-20

(10) business days of a decision after a hearing and in accordance with the decision of any

2-21

hearing that takes place as provided for in this subsection.

2-22

     27-57.1-2. Notice of interception of insurance settlements.-- In any case where the

2-23

executive office of health and human services has intercepted an insurance payment, that office

2-24

shall notify the recipient.

2-25

     27-57.1-3. Certain liens not affected. -- Nothing in this chapter affects the validity or

2-26

priority of liens or written notices of health care providers, attorney fees, holders of security

2-27

interests, or the assignment of rights under section 40-6-9 or section 40-6-10. Funds subject to

2-28

liens, written notices, or security interests shall be paid to the lien or interest holder. Funds

2-29

available to be paid pursuant to chapter 27-57 for the payment of child support shall supersede

2-30

any payment made pursuant to this chapter.

2-31

     27-57.1-4. Information to be provided by the executive office of health and human

2-32

services.-- (a) The executive office of health and human services shall periodically within each

2-33

year furnish the insurance companies and insurers subject to this section with a list or compilation

2-34

of claimants, who have received medical assistance, as a result of the accident or loss which is the

3-1

basis of the claim and who have been identified and matched through the centralized database

3-2

provided for in this chapter. The information provided to the insurance companies and insurers

3-3

shall be the names of individuals, with last known addresses, who as of the date of the list or

3-4

compilation have received medical assistance in excess of five hundred dollars ($500).

3-5

     (b) In order to facilitate the efficient and prompt reporting of those medical assistance

3-6

recipients in one centralized location, it is the duty and responsibility of the insurance companies

3-7

doing business in the state to utilize one centralized database, to which the executive office of

3-8

health and human services shall report and administer. Any insurer receiving information

3-9

identifying an individual as a medical assistance recipient shall maintain the confidentiality of

3-10

that information. Minimal data elements shall be shared with an agency contracted by the

3-11

executive office of health and human services which maintains a centralized database of

3-12

insurance claims. The contracted centralized database is required to keep confidential any

3-13

personal and personnel information; records sufficient to identify an applicant for or recipient of

3-14

medical assistance; preliminary drafts, notes, impressions, memoranda, working papers, and work

3-15

products; as well as any other records, reports, opinions, information, and statements deemed

3-16

confidential pursuant to state or federal law or regulation, or rule of court. That data shall not be

3-17

disclosed to the insurer. Matched results are returned to the executive office of health and human

3-18

services through its contracted agency. Proper quality assurance shall be performed by the

3-19

contracted agency to insure the claim is open and collect additional information from the insurer

3-20

including but not limited to contact information.

3-21

     SECTION 2. Sections 27-57-1, 27-57-2 and 27-57-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 27-

3-22

57 entitled "Child Support Intercept Act" are hereby amended to read as follows:

3-23

     27-57-1. Interception of insurance payments. -- (a) Every domestic insurer or

3-24

insurance company authorized to issue policies of liability insurance pursuant to this title, and

3-25

also any workers' compensation insurer, shall, within thirty (30) days prior to the making of any

3-26

payment equal to or in excess of three thousand dollars ($3,000) five hundred dollars ($500) to

3-27

any claimant who is a resident of the state of Rhode Island or to any claimant who has an accident

3-28

or loss that occurred in the state of Rhode Island, for third party for personal injury or workers'

3-29

compensation benefits under a contract of insurance, review information provided by the

3-30

department of administration, division of taxation, human service, office of child support

3-31

services, child support enforcement pursuant to section 27-57-4 indicating whether the claimant

3-32

owes past-due child support.

3-33

      (b) If the insurer determines from the information provided by the department pursuant

3-34

to section 27-57-4 that the claimant or payee does not owe past-due support, the insurer may

4-1

make the payment to the claimant in accordance with the contract of the insurance.

4-2

      (c) If the insurer determines from the information provided by the department pursuant

4-3

to section 27-57-4 that the claimant or payee owes past-due child support, the insurer shall,

4-4

except to the extent payments are subject to liens, written notices, or interests described in section

4-5

27-57-3, withhold from payment the amount of past-due support and pay that amount to the

4-6

family court which shall credit the person's child support obligation account for the amount so

4-7

paid, and the insurer shall pay the balance to the claimant or other person entitled to it; provided,

4-8

that the . The insurer or insurance company shall provide written notice by regular mail to the

4-9

claimant and his or her attorney, if any, and notice by e-mail or other electronic means, to the

4-10

department of the payment to the family court. The payment shall be deposited in the registry of

4-11

the family court for a period of forty-five (45) days, or if an application for review has been filed

4-12

pursuant to subsection (d), until further order of the court. The notice shall reflect the date, name,

4-13

social security number, case number, and amount of the payment. Any insurer or insurance

4-14

company, its directors, agents, and employees and central reporting organizations and their

4-15

respective employees, authorized by an insurer to act on its behalf, who release information in

4-16

accordance with the provisions of this chapter, or who withhold amounts from payment based

4-17

upon the latest information supplied by the department pursuant to section 27-57-4 and makes

4-18

disbursements in accordance with section 27-57-3, shall be in compliance and shall be immune

4-19

from any liability to the claimant, payee lienholder, payee who provided written notice, or

4-20

security interest holder for taking that action.

4-21

      (d) Any claimant aggrieved by any action taken under this section may within thirty (30)

4-22

days of the making of the notice to the claimant in subsection (c) of this section, seek judicial

4-23

review in the family court, which may, in its discretion, issue a temporary order prohibiting the

4-24

disbursement of funds under this section, pending final adjudication.

4-25

     27-57-2. Notice provided to obligors of interception of insurance settlements. -- In

4-26

any case where the department of administration, division of taxation human services, office of

4-27

child support services, child support enforcement unit has intercepted an insurance payment, the

4-28

department shall notify the obligor parent of this action upon crediting the obligor's account.

4-29

     27-57-4. Information to be provided by the department of administration, division

4-30

of taxation, child support enforcement Information to be provided by the department of

4-31

human services, office of child support services, child support enforcement. -- (a) The

4-32

department shall periodically within each year furnish the insurance companies and insurers

4-33

subject to this section with a list or compilation of names of individuals, with last known

4-34

addresses, who as of the date of the list or compilation owe past due support in excess of five

5-1

hundred dollars ($500) as shown on the Rhode Island family court/department of administration,

5-2

division of taxation, child support enforcement human services, office of child support services,

5-3

child support enforcement computer system ("CSE system"). For the purposes of this section, the

5-4

terms used in this section have the meaning and definitions specified in section15-16-2.

5-5

      (b) In order to facilitate the efficient and prompt reporting of those arrearages in one

5-6

centralized location, it is the duty and responsibility of the insurance companies doing business in

5-7

the state to utilize one centralized database to which the department shall report and administer.

5-8

     SECTION 3. Section 28-33-27 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-33 entitled "Workers'

5-9

Compensation - Benefits" is hereby amended to read as follows:

5-10

     28-33-27. Immunity of claims from assignment or liability for debt. -- (a) No claims

5-11

or payments due for compensation under chapters 29 -- 38 of this title or under any alternative

5-12

scheme permitted by sections 28-29-22 -- 28-29-24 shall be assignable, or subject to attachment,

5-13

or liable in any way for any debts, except as set forth in subsection (b) of this section.

5-14

      (b) A lien in favor of the department of labor and training and/or the department of

5-15

human services executive office of health and human services shall attach by operation of law to

5-16

any benefits due and payable under chapters 29 -- 38 of this title, or under any alternative scheme

5-17

by sections 28-29-22 -- 28-29-24, to the extent that those payments have been made by the

5-18

department of labor and training and/or the department of human services executive office of

5-19

health and human services to or on behalf of an injured employee or his or her dependents, but

5-20

only to the extent that the employee would be entitled to receive benefits under the provision of

5-21

these chapters. Any such lien is subject to the provisions of section 40-6-10.

5-22

     SECTION 4. Sections 40-6-9 and 40-6-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 40-6 entitled

5-23

"Public Assistance Act" are hereby amended to read as follows:

5-24

     40-6-9. Assignment of child, spousal and medical support rights Assignment and

5-25

subrogation for recovery of child, spousal and medical support rights. -- (a) An applicant for

5-26

or recipient of public assistance under this chapter or under title XIX of the federal Social

5-27

Security Act, 42 U.S.C. section 1396 et seq., for and on behalf of himself or herself and for and

5-28

on behalf of a child or children, shall be deemed, without the necessity of signing any document

5-29

for purposes of recovery, to have made an assignment and given a right of subrogation to the

5-30

executive office of health and human services and/or the department of human services, as

5-31

applicable, of any and all rights and interests in any cause of action, past, present, or future, that

5-32

the applicant or recipient may have against any person failing to or obligated to provide for the

5-33

support, maintenance, and medical care of the applicant, recipient, and/or minor child or children,

5-34

for the period of time that assistance is being paid by the executive office of health and human

6-1

services and/or the department;. The executive office of health and human services and/or the

6-2

department shall be subrogated to any and all rights, title, and interest the applicant or recipient

6-3

may have against any and all property belonging to the obligated or non-supporting person in the

6-4

enforcement of any claim for child, spousal, and medical support, whether liquidated through

6-5

court order or not. The applicant or recipient shall also be deemed, without the necessity of

6-6

signing any document, to have appointed the executive office of health and human services

6-7

and/or the department of human services as his or her true and lawful attorney in fact to act in his

6-8

or her name, place, and stead to perform the specific act of instituting suit to establish paternity or

6-9

secure support and medical care, collecting any and all amounts due and owing for child, spousal,

6-10

and medical support, endorsing any and all drafts, checks, money orders, or other negotiable

6-11

instruments representing support payments which are received by executive office of health and

6-12

human services and/or the department, and retaining any portion thereof permitted under federal

6-13

and state statutes as reimbursement for financial and medical assistance previously paid to or for

6-14

the recipient, child, or children.

6-15

      (b) An applicant for or a recipient of medical assistance provided by executive office of

6-16

health and human services and/or the department pursuant to this chapter, chapter 5.1, or chapter

6-17

8 of this title or title XIX of the federal Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. section 1396 et seq., for

6-18

and on behalf of himself or herself, and for and on behalf of any other person for whom he or she

6-19

may legally assign rights to any medical support or any other medical care, shall be deemed,

6-20

without the necessity of signing any document for purposes of reimbursement, to have made an

6-21

assignment and given a right of subrogation to executive office of health and human services

6-22

and/or the department of human services of any and all rights and interests that he, she, or such

6-23

other person may have: (1) to payment for any medical support; and (2) to payment for any

6-24

medical care from any third party.

6-25

      (c) In addition to the assignments and subrogation rights provided in subsections (a) and

6-26

(b) of this section, an applicant for or a recipient of financial assistance provided by the executive

6-27

office of health and human services and/or department pursuant to this chapter, whenever the

6-28

assistance is necessary by reason of accident, injury, or illness for which a third party may be

6-29

liable, for and on behalf of himself or herself, and for and on behalf of any other person for whom

6-30

he or she may legally act, shall be deemed, without the necessity of signing any document, to

6-31

have assigned and subrogated to the executive office of health and human services and/or the

6-32

department of human services, from amounts recovered or recoverable from any third party, an

6-33

amount of money equal to the amount of financial assistance provided as a result of the accident,

6-34

illness, or injury.

7-1

      (d) With respect to an assignment and subrogation rights established pursuant to this

7-2

section, an applicant or recipient shall provide to the executive office of health and human

7-3

services and/or the department of human services and/or the division of taxation within the

7-4

department of administration all relevant information regarding the rights assigned and

7-5

subrogated rights, and shall execute any documents relating thereto, in accordance with rules and

7-6

regulations to be adopted by the executive office of health and human services and/or the

7-7

department.

7-8

      (e) With respect to any assignment of rights and subrogation rights for medical or

7-9

financial support or recoveries under this section, the executive office of health and human

7-10

services and/or the department of human services shall be considered to have acquired the rights

7-11

of such individual to payment by any third party for such medical care and support, and financial

7-12

support.

7-13

     (f) An applicant for or a recipient of medical assistance provided by the executive office

7-14

of health and human services in accordance with chapter 40-8 shall also be subject to the

7-15

provisions of chapter 27-57.1. Funds available to be paid for the payment of child support shall

7-16

supersede any payment made pursuant to this chapter and chapter 27-57.1.

7-17

     40-6-10. Effects of assistance on receipt of workers' compensation benefits. -- (a) No

7-18

individual shall be entitled to receive assistance provided under this chapter or chapter 5.1 of this

7-19

title and/or medical assistance under chapter 8 of this title for any period beginning on or after

7-20

July 1, 1982, with respect to which benefits are paid or payable to individuals under any workers'

7-21

compensation law of this state, any other state, or the federal government, on account of any

7-22

disability caused by accident or illness. In the event that workers' compensation benefits are

7-23

subsequently awarded to an individual with respect to which the individual has received

7-24

assistance payments under this chapter or chapter 5.1 of this title and/or medical assistance under

7-25

chapter 8 of this title, then the department executive office of health and human services shall be

7-26

subrogated to the individual's rights in the award to the extent of the amount of the payments

7-27

and/or medical assistance paid to or on behalf of the individuals.

7-28

      (b) Whenever an employer or insurance carrier has been notified by the department

7-29

executive office of health and human services that an individual is an applicant for or a recipient

7-30

of assistance payments under this chapter or chapter 5.1 of this title, and/or medical assistance

7-31

under chapter 8 of this title, for a period during which the individual is or may be eligible for

7-32

benefits under the Workers' Compensation Act, chapters 29--38 of title 28, the notice shall

7-33

constitute a lien in favor of the department executive office of health and human services, upon

7-34

any pending award, order, or settlement to the individual under the Workers' Compensation Act.

8-1

The employer or his or her insurance carrier shall be required to reimburse the department of

8-2

human services executive office of health and human services the amount of the assistance

8-3

payments and/or medical assistance paid to or on behalf of the individual for any period for which

8-4

an award, order, or settlement is made.

8-5

      (c) Whenever an individual becomes entitled to or is awarded workers' compensation for

8-6

the same period with respect to which the individual has received assistance payments under this

8-7

chapter or chapter 5.1 of this title and/or medical assistance under chapter 8 of this title, and

8-8

whenever notice of the receipt of assistance payments has been given to the division of workers'

8-9

compensation of the department of labor and training of this state and/or the workers'

8-10

compensation commission, the division or commission is hereby required to and shall incorporate

8-11

in any award, order, or approval of settlement, an order requiring the employer or his or her

8-12

insurance carrier to reimburse the department executive office of health and human services the

8-13

amount of the assistance payments and/or medical assistance paid to or on behalf of the

8-14

individual for the period for which an award, order, or settlement is made.

8-15

     (d) Any claims or payments to a recipient of medical assistance provided by the executive

8-16

office of health and human services in accordance with chapter 40-8 shall also be subject to the

8-17

provisions of chapter 28-33-27. Funds available to be paid for the payment of child support shall

8-18

supersede any payment made pursuant to this chapter and chapter 27-57.1.

8-19

     SECTION 5. Section 40-8-15 of the General Laws in Chapter 40-8 entitled "Medical

8-20

Assistance" is hereby amended to read as follows:

8-21

     40-8-15. Lien on deceased recipient's estate for assistance. -- (a) (1) Upon the death of

8-22

a recipient of medical assistance under Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. §

8-23

1396 et seq., the total sum of medical assistance so paid on behalf of a recipient who was fifty-

8-24

five (55) years of age or older at the time of receipt of the assistance shall be and constitute a lien

8-25

upon the estate, as defined herein in subdivision (a)(2) below, of the recipient in favor of the

8-26

department of human services executive office of health and human services. The lien shall not be

8-27

effective and shall not attach as against the estate of a recipient who is survived by a spouse, or a

8-28

child who is under the age of twenty-one (21), or a child who is blind or permanently and totally

8-29

disabled as defined in Title XVI of the federal Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1381 et seq. The

8-30

lien shall not be effective and shall not attach as against a recipient's estate, which has been

8-31

admitted for probate administration unless the department has filed a claim for reimbursement in

8-32

the probate court in accordance with § 33-11-5 or other applicable law. The lien shall attach

8-33

against property of a recipient, which is included or includible in the decedent’s probate estate,

8-34

regardless of whether or not a probate proceeding has been commenced in the probate court by

9-1

the executive office of health and human services or by any other party. Provided, however, that

9-2

such lien shall only attach and shall only be effective against the recipient’s real property

9-3

included or includible in the recipient’s probate estate if such lien is recorded in the land evidence

9-4

records and is in accordance with subsection 40-8-15(f). Decedents who have received medical

9-5

assistance are subject to the assignment and subrogation provisions of sections 40-6-9 and 40-6-

9-6

10.

9-7

     (2) For purposes of this section, the term "estate" with respect to a deceased individual

9-8

shall include all real and personal property and other assets included or includable within the

9-9

individual's probate estate

9-10

     (b) The department executive office of health and human services is authorized to

9-11

promulgate regulations to implement the terms, intent, and purpose of this section and to require

9-12

the legal representative(s) and/or the heirs-at-law of the decedent to provide reasonable written

9-13

notice to the department executive office of health and human services of the death of a recipient

9-14

of medical assistance who was fifty-five (55) years of age or older at the date of death, and to

9-15

provide a statement identifying the decedent's property and the names and addresses of all

9-16

persons entitled to take any share or interest of the estate as legatees or distributees thereof.

9-17

     (c) The amount of medical assistance reimbursement imposed under this section shall

9-18

also become a debt to the state from the person or entity liable for the payment thereof.

9-19

     (d) Upon payment of the amount of reimbursement for medical assistance imposed by

9-20

this section, the director secretary of the department of human services executive office of health

9-21

and human services, or his or her designee, shall issue a written discharge of lien.

9-22

     (e) Upon application to the director and a determination by the director that the lien is

9-23

either inapplicable or that no reimbursement for medical assistance is due with respect to the

9-24

estate, the director shall issue a written discharge of lien.

9-25

     (f) Provided, however, that no lien created under this section shall attach nor become

9-26

effective upon any real property unless and until a statement of claim is recorded naming the

9-27

debtor/owner of record of the property as of the date and time of recording of the statement of

9-28

claim, and describing the real property by a description containing all of the following: (1) tax

9-29

assessor's plat and lot; and (2) street address. The statement of claim shall be recorded in the

9-30

records of land evidence in the town or city where the real property is situated. Notice of said lien

9-31

shall be sent to the duly appointed executor or administrator, the decedent’s legal representative,

9-32

if known, or to the decedent’s next of kin or heirs at law as stated in the decedent’s last

9-33

application for medical assistance.

10-34

     (g)(f) The department of human services executive office of health and human services

10-35

shall establish procedures, in accordance with the standards specified by the secretary, U.S.

10-36

Department of Health and Human Services, under which the department of human services

10-37

executive office of health and human services shall waive, in whole or in part, the lien and

10-38

reimbursement established by this section if such lien and reimbursement would work an undue

10-39

hardship, as determined by the department executive office of health and human services, on the

10-40

basis of the criteria established by the secretary in accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 1396p(b)(3).

10-41

     (g) Upon the filing of a petition for admission to probate of a decedent’s will or for

10-42

administration of a decedent’s estate, when the decedent was fifty-five (55) years or older at the

10-43

time of death, a copy of said petition and a copy of the death certificate shall be sent to the

10-44

executive office of health and human services. Within thirty (30) days of a request by the

10-45

executive office of health and human services, an executor or administrator shall complete and

10-46

send to the executive office of health and human services a form prescribed by that office and

10-47

shall provide such additional information as the office may require. In the event a petitioner fails

10-48

to send a copy of the petition and a copy of the death certificate to the executive office of health

10-49

and human services and a decedent has received medical assistance for which the executive office

10-50

of health and human services is authorized to recover, no distribution and/or payments, including

10-51

administration fees, shall be disbursed. Any person and /or entity that receives a distribution of

10-52

assets from the decedent’s estate shall be liable to the executive office of health and human

10-53

services to the extent of such distribution.

10-54

     (h) Compliance with the provisions of this section shall be consistent with the

10-55

requirements set forth in section 33-11-5 and the requirements of the affidavit of notice set forth

10-56

in section 33-11-5.2. Nothing in these sections shall limit the executive office of health and

10-57

human services from recovery, to the extent of the distribution, in accordance with all state and

10-58

federal laws.

10-59

     SECTION 6. Chapter 40-8 of the General laws entitled “Medical Assistance” is hereby

10-60

amended by adding thereto the following section:

10-61

     40-8-9.1. Notice. -- Whenever an individual who is receiving medical assistance under

10-62

this chapter transfers an interest in real or personal property, such individual shall notify the

10-63

executive office of health and human services within ten (10) days of the transfer. Such notice

10-64

shall be sent to the individual’s local office and the legal office of the executive office of health

10-65

and human services and include, at a minimum, the individual’s name, social security number or,

10-66

if different, the executive office of health and human services identification number, the date of

10-67

transfer and the dollar value, if any, paid or received by the individual who received benefits

10-68

under this chapter. In the event an individual fails to provide notice required by this section to the

11-1

executive office of health and human services and in the event an individual has received medical

11-2

assistance, any individual and/or entity, who knew or should have known that such individual

11-3

failed to provide such notice and who receives any distribution of value as a result of the transfer,

11-4

shall be liable to the executive office of health and human services to the extent of the value of

11-5

the transfer. Moreover, any such individual shall be subject to the provisions of section 40-6-15

11-6

and any remedy provided by applicable state and federal laws and rules and regulations. Failure

11-7

to comply with the notice requirements set forth in the section shall not affect the marketability of

11-8

title to real estate transferred, while the transferor is receiving medical assistance

11-9

     SECTION 7. Chapter 33-11 of the General Laws entitled “Claims Against Decedents’

11-10

Estates” is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

11-11

     33-11-5.2. Fiduciary’s affidavit regarding notice to creditors and OHHS. -- In order

11-12

to close an estate, whether by accounting or affidavit of completed administration, the fiduciary

11-13

shall submit to the probate court an affidavit in substantially the following form:

11-14

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND PROBATE COURT OF THE

11-15

     COUNTY _____________ TOWN OF _____________

11-16

     ESTATE OF __________________ NO. ________

11-17

     FIDUCIARY’S AFFIDAVIT REGARDING NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND TO THE

11-18

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

11-19

     The undersigned fiduciary of the above-captioned estate upon oath deposes and says that

11-20

(a) notice of the commencement of the estate was mailed to all known or reasonably ascertainable

11-21

creditors of the estate, as well as to the executive office of health and human services when the

11-22

decedent was fifty-five (55) years or older, or that (b) no such notice was required to be mailed

11-23

because the estate had no known or reasonably ascertainable creditors and the decedent was under

11-24

the age of fifty-five (55).

11-25

     Name Date

11-26

     Subscribed and sworn before me this ______ day of _______, 20__.

11-27

     _______________________________________

11-28

     Notary public

11-29

     SECTION 8. Section 33-22-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 33-22 entitled "Practice in

11-30

Probate Courts" is hereby amended to read as follows:

11-31

     33-22-3. Notice given by petitioner on filing of petition and hearing. -- In addition to

11-32

the notice prescribed by section 33-7-9, and to notice by publication in the manner as prescribed

11-33

by section 33-22-11, the petitioner or his or her attorney shall, at least ten (10) days before the

11-34

date set for hearing on the petition, send or cause to be sent by mail, postage prepaid, addressed to

12-1

each person whose name and post office address is by section 33-22-2(3) required to be set forth

12-2

in the petition, as the names and addresses are set forth therein or as then known to the petitioner,

12-3

and when the decedent was fifty-five (55) years or older to the executive office of health and

12-4

human services and in accordance with section 40-8-15, notice of the filing, the nature of the

12-5

petition, and of the time and place set for hearing on the petition, or in lieu thereof a copy of the

12-6

newspaper notice published pursuant to the provisions of section 33-22-11; provided, however,

12-7

that in the case of any person entitled to notice hereunder whose post office address is outside the

12-8

continental limits of the United States this notice shall be sent at least three (3) weeks before the

12-9

date set for the hearing; and provided further that the petitioner or his or her attorney shall not be

12-10

required to send this notice to any person sui juris who shall at, or prior to, the hearing waive

12-11

notice of its pendency in writing either on the petition or by instrument separately filed. The

12-12

petitioner or his or her attorney shall at or prior to the hearing file or cause to be filed an affidavit

12-13

that the notice was given, setting forth the names and post office addresses of the persons to

12-14

whom the notice was sent and the date of mailing of the notice, together with a copy of the notice.

12-15

     SECTION 9. This article shall take effect July 1, 2012.

Article-011-SUB-A-as-amended