Current through Reg. 50, No. 187; September 24, 2024
(1)
Introduction. The Department is responsible for determining and collecting
noncovered medical expenses under Section
409.25635, F.S.
(2) Definitions. For purposes of this rule:
(a) "Obligee" means the person to whom
support payments are made pursuant to a child support order.
(b) "Obligor" means a person who is
responsible for making support payments pursuant to a child support
order.
(3) Criteria. The
Department will determine and collect noncovered medical expenses when:
(a) The support order requires the obligor to
pay all or a percentage of a child's noncovered medical expenses.
(b) The obligee provides the Department with
a written declaration under penalty of perjury that states:
1. Noncovered medical expenses have been
incurred on behalf of the dependent child whom the obligor has been ordered to
support.
2. The obligee has paid
for noncovered medical expenses incurred on behalf of the child.
3. The obligor has not paid all or part of
the child's noncovered medical expenses as ordered.
4. The amount paid by the obligee for
noncovered medical expenses and the amount the obligor allegedly owes to the
obligee.
(c) The expenses
are reasonable and necessary based on the specific language in the support
order, the nature of the expense, and whether it is medically necessary as
determined by a physician or other healthcare provider.
(d) The obligee has tried at least once to
collect the amount owed from the obligor and provides the Department with a
copy of the written document used to attempt to collect the amount from the
obligor unless the obligee has reason to believe contacting the obligor may
result in physical or emotional harm to themselves, to the child, or
both.
(e) The obligee has not
received services from the Department to determine and collect noncovered
medical expenses for the same support order within the last six
months.
(f) The last or only child
on the case did not emancipate more than 24 months ago.
(g) The medical expenses are equal to or less
than 24 months old.
(4)
Requests for Service.
(a) If the case meets
the criteria in subsection (3) upon request, the Department will send the
obligee, by regular mail, the Instructions for Repayment of Medical Expenses
Not Covered by Insurance (CS-EF204) (
http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-06585),
incorporated herein by reference effective 4/5/16.
(b) The obligee must complete a Statement of
Medical Expenses Not Covered by Insurance (CS-EF205) (
http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-06586),
incorporated herein by reference effective 4/5/16, declaring:
1. The amount of noncovered medical expenses
the obligee paid for the child.
2.
The percentage of the child's noncovered medical expenses the obligor is
required to pay as specified in the support order.
3. The amount the obligor paid for noncovered
medical expenses.
4. The amount the
obligor still owes the obligee for noncovered medical
expenses.
(c) The obligee
must complete a Worksheet for Medical Expenses Not Covered by Insurance
(CS-EF206) (
http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-06587),
incorporated herein by reference effective 4/5/16, and provide:
1. Proof of medical expenses for the
child.
2. Proof of payment for the
medical expenses.
(d) The
obligee may only include medical expenses for services received after the date
of the support order.
(e) The
obligee may only include medical expenses that are equal to or less than 24
months old.
(f) The obligee must
complete and return forms Statement of Medical Expenses Not Covered by
Insurance (CS-EF205), Worksheet for Medical Expenses Not Covered by Insurance
(CS-EF206), and supporting documents to the Department within 30 calendar days
from the date on the Instructions for Repayment of Medical Expenses Not Covered
by Insurance (CS-EF204).
(g) When
the Department is enforcing a support order for another state, the other state
has 45 calendar days to return the information.
(5) Determination of Eligible and Ineligible
Expenses.
(a) The Department shall review
noncovered medical expense requests submitted.
(b) If the obligee returns any, but not all
of the required information, or returns incomplete or inaccurate information,
the Department will send the obligee, by regular mail, an Information Request
for Repayment of Medical Expenses (CS-EF207) (
http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-06588),
incorporated herein by reference effective 4/5/16, to the parent requesting the
missing, incomplete, or corrected information.
(c) The obligee must complete and return the
requested information to the Department within 21 calendar days from the mail
date on the Information Request for Repayment of Medical Expenses
(CS-EF207).
(d) If the obligee does
not return the Statement of Medical Expenses Not Covered by Insurance
(CS-EF205), Worksheet for Medical Expenses Not Covered by Insurance (CS-EF206),
and supporting documents within 30 calendar days the request is considered
abandoned and the Department closes the request for services.
1. The Department will send the obligee, by
regular mail, a Status Update Medical Expenses Not Covered by Insurance
(CS-EF208) (
http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-12347),
incorporated herein by reference effective 11/20, to inform the obligee the
information did not arrive timely.
2. If the obligee returns the requested
information after 30 calendar days, but before six months, the Department will
re-open the request for services.
3. If the other state returns the requested
information after 45 calendar days, but before six months, the Department will
re-open the request for services.
(e) The Department shall review the forms and
supporting documents returned by the obligee to determine which expenses and
payments qualify for repayment, and the amount of noncovered medical expenses
owed to the obligee.
1. The Department accepts
proof of payment as paid by the obligee unless the document shows someone other
than the obligee made the payment.
2. The payment date of the expense must be
within 24 months of the date the obligee signed the form CS-EF205.
3. The Department will determine the amount
owed to the obligee by the obligor only for expenses the obligee has already
paid.
4. If the obligee has
partially paid an expense, the Department considers only the amount paid for
repayment.
(f) The
Department will not attempt to obligate and collect if:
1. The expense does not show who received the
service or the patient name is missing.
2. The submitted expense is for a child not
included in the support order.
3.
The submitted expense has the child's name in freehand text rather than printed
and does not appear to be a part of the original document.
4. The child emancipated before the medical
services were incurred.
5. The
submitted expense was not an uninsured medical, dental, or prescription
medication expense ordered to be paid on behalf of a child as provided in
Section 61.13(1)(b),
F.S., or a similar law of another state.
6. The obligee does not provide proof of
payment of the expense.
7. Someone
other than the obligee paid the expense and there is no proof the obligee
reimbursed the individual for the expense.
8. The expense was paid more than 24 months
before the obligee signed the Statement of Medical Expenses Not Covered by
Insurance (CS-EF205).
9. The
expense was previously established as a noncovered medical expense owed by the
obligor.
10. The expense is the
same as another expense within the documentation provided by the
obligee.
11. The expense is a
health insurance, dental insurance, or prescription medication insurance
premium payment.
12. The expenses
are not reasonable and necessary based on the specific language in the support
order, the nature of the expense, and whether it is medically necessary as
determined by a physician or other healthcare provider.
13. The obligee did not initially try to
collect the expense payment directly from the obligor.
14. The expense is interest charged on a
credit or loan account while waiting for the obligor to reimburse noncovered
medical expenses.
(g) If
some or all of the expenses are not eligible for repayment, the Department will
send the obligee, by regular mail, the Medical Expenses Not Eligible for
Reimbursement (CS-EF209) (
http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-06590),
incorporated herein by reference effective 4/5/16. The form will list the
receipt number, date the expense was incurred, type of service, name of service
provider, name of child, and reason the Department cannot ask for repayment.
1. The obligee will have 15 calendar days
from the mail date to provide the Department more information documenting why
the expenses are eligible.
2. The
other state will have 30 calendar days from the mail date to provide the
Department more information documenting why the expenses are
eligible.
(6)
Notice of Proceeding. When the Department determines expenses claimed by the
obligee as noncovered medical expenses are subject to reimbursement by the
obligor, the Department will send the obligor, by regular mail, the Notice of
Proceeding to Establish the Amount Owed for Medical Expenses Not Covered by
Insurance (CS-EF210) (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-12348),
incorporated herein by reference effective 11/20, by regular mail.
(7) Uncontested.
(a) If the obligor does not contest the
Notice of Proceeding to Establish the Amount Owed for Medical Expenses Not
Covered by Insurance (CS-EF210) within 25 days of the Notice, the obligor is
deemed to have waived the right to contest.
(b) Upon expiration of the contest period,
the Department shall file a certified copy of the uncontested notice and the
Notice to the Clerk of the Circuit Court Depository Determination of Noncovered
Medical Expenses (CS-EF211) (
http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-06592),
incorporated herein by reference effective 4/5/16, with the
depository.
(8)
Contested. Upon entry of a final order by the Department following an
administrative hearing, the Department shall file a certified copy of the final
order establishing the amount of noncovered medical expenses, if any, and the
Notice to the Clerk of the Circuit Court Depository Determination of Noncovered
Medical Expenses (CS-EF211) with the depository.
Rulemaking Authority 61.13(1)(b)7.,
409.25635(9),
409.2557(3)(j)
FS. Law Implemented 61.17,
409.25635
FS.
New 4-5-16, Amended
11-12-20.