(A) The application for, or enrollment in, a medical assistance program constitutes an automatic assignment of rights specified in division (B) of this section to the department of medicaid. This assignment includes the rights of the medical assistance recipient and also the rights of any other member of the assistance group for whom the recipient can legally make an assignment.

(B) Pursuant to this section, a medical assistance recipient assigns to the department any rights to medical support available to the recipient or other members of the recipient's assistance group under an order of a court or administrative agency, and any rights to payments by a liable third party for the cost of medical assistance paid on behalf of the recipient or other members of the assistance group. The recipient shall cooperate with the department in obtaining such payments.

Medicare benefits shall not be assigned pursuant to this section. Benefits assigned to the department by operation of this section are directly reimbursable to the department by liable third parties.

(C) Refusal by a medical assistance recipient to cooperate in obtaining medical assistance paid for self or any other member of the recipient's assistance group renders the recipient ineligible for a medical assistance program, unless cooperation is waived by the department. Eligibility shall continue for any individual who cannot legally assign the individual's own rights and who would have been eligible for a medical assistance program but for the refusal to assign the individual's rights or to cooperate as required by this section by another person legally able to assign the individual's rights.

(D) If a medical assistance recipient or any member of the recipient's assistance group becomes ineligible for a medical assistance program, the department shall restore to the recipient or assistance group member any future rights to benefits assigned under this section.

Renumbered from § 5101.59 by 130th General Assembly File No. 25, HB 59, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2013.

Effective Date: 06-26-2003; 2007 HB119 09-29-2007