§ 20-77-301 - Action by Department of Human Services. - Arkansas Statutes

20-77-301. Action by Department of Human Services.

(a) When medical assistance benefits are provided or will be provided to a medical assistance recipient because of injury, disease, or disability for which another person is liable, the appropriate division of the Department of Human Services shall have a right to recover from the person the cost of benefits so provided. The department may, to enforce the right, institute and prosecute legal proceedings against the third person who may be liable.

(b) No action taken on behalf of the division pursuant to this section or any judgment rendered in the action shall be a bar to any action upon the claim or cause of action of the recipient, his or her guardian, personal representative, estate, or survivors against the third person who may be liable for the injury. Nor shall any action operate to deny to the recipient the recovery for that portion of any damages not covered hereunder.

(c) The department shall likewise have the authority to recover the cost of benefits for medical care provided to indigent persons from third persons, whether or not the care was provided pursuant to the Arkansas Health Care Access Program, another program administered by the department, or a program administered through another department or agency of state government. The department shall remit to other departments or agencies of state government any amounts recovered, less its pro rata share and costs of collection, for care provided by them.

(d) (1) In actions in tort hereunder, no contributory or comparative fault of a recipient shall be attributed to the state, nor shall any restitution awarded to the state be denied or reduced by any amount or percentage of fault attributed to a recipient.

(2) Notwithstanding subdivision (d)(1) of this section, if the recipient used a device, machine, or product after being warned, either verbally or in writing, that the use, misuse, or improper operation of the device, machine, or product was dangerous, risky, or could result in injury or harm to the recipient, then the statutory or common law defenses of contributory or comparative fault or negligence that could be asserted by the defendant against the recipient may also be asserted by the defendant in any action by the department or other agency of state government, and if the defenses are supported by the evidence, then recovery may be denied or reduced in the same manner as if the recipient were the plaintiff.