Pursuant to Mississippi law, the Division of Medicaid has “subrogation rights” (not a lien) in the proceeds of a tort judgment or settlement “to the extent of the Division of Medicaid’s interest on behalf of the recipient.” Miss. Code Ann. § 43-13-125(1). This subrogation interest is limited to payments made by the Division of Medicaid “as a result of injuries, disease or sickness caused under circumstances creating a cause of action in favor of the [Medicaid] recipient against a third party.” Id.
Under federal law, the Division of Medicaid may not recover “any portion of a Medicaid beneficiary’s tort judgment or settlement not ‘designated as payments for medical care.’” Wos v. E.M.A. ex rel. Johnson, 2013 WL 1131709 at *1 (U.S. Mar. 20, 2013) (quoting Arkansas Dept. of Health & Human Servs. v. Ahlborn, 547 U.S. 268 (2006)). 42 U.S.C. § 1396a(25)(B) provides that the Division of Medicaid may, in cases where “legal liability is found to exist after medical assistance has been provided” to an individual, “seek reimbursement for such assistance to the extent of such legal liability.”
“The purposes of subrogation are to prevent the insured from recovering twice for the same loss and to reimburse the insurer when a third party should be required to pay for the loss.” Armstrong v. Mississippi Farm Bureau Casualty Ins. Co., 66 So.3d 188, 191 (Miss. Ct. App. 2011).
Under the statute creating the Division of Medicaid’s subrogation interest, Medicaid bears the burden of proving “the amount and correctness of its claim relating to the injury, disease or sickness” that was at issue in the underlying tort action. Miss. Code Ann. § 43-13-125(3).
Once Medicaid has borne its burden of proving which of its subrogation claims are “a result of” or “related to” the fault or alleged fault of the third party, this Court is to deduct “[t]he reasonable costs of collection, including attorney’s fees, as approved and allowed by the court”. Miss. Code Ann. § 43-13-125(2). The Court may also account for other factors in setting the amount of Medicaid’s recovery, including a “pro rata” share and the other interests traditionally committed to the Chancery Court in handling minor’s business. Miss. Code Ann. § 43-13-125(2)(b).
Madison County Chancery Court updated guardianships and conservatorships forms. (January 1, 2020 Update). Forms are GAP ACT compliant and available for download in WordPerfect and PDF format. (Click Here)
- Certificate of Attorney (pdf)
- Certificate of Attorney (doc)
- Certificate of Attorney (wpd)
- Certificate of Fiduciary Conservator (pdf)
- Certificate of Fiduciary Conservator (doc)
- Certificate of Fiduciary Conservator (wpd)
- Certificate of Fiduciary Guardian (pdf)
- Certificate of Fiduciary Guardian (doc)
- Certificate of Fiduciary Guardian (wpd)
- Sample Letters of Conservatorship (pdf)
- Sample Letters of Conservatorship (doc)
- Sample Letters of Conservatorship (wpd)
- Sample Letters of Guardianship (pdf)
- Sample Letters of Guardianship (doc)
- Sample Letters of Guardianship (wpd)
Judge Robert G. Clark, III – Judge
Chancery Court Judge
Sub District One
Office: (662) 834-1285
Judge Cynthia Brewer – Senior Judge
Chancery Court Judge
Sub District Two
Office: (601) 855-5512
James C. Walker – Judge
Chancery Court Judge
Sub District Three
Office: 601-855-5707
11th Chancery Court District Main Office
146 West Center Street
P.O. Box 404
Canton, MS 39046
Office: (601) 859-1177
Fax: (601) 859-0795
OPEN & OBVIOUS DEFENSE
First, conditions are not either open and obvious or not open and obvious. Common sense and experience negates an either/or categorization of such conditions. Just how open and obvious a condition may have been is a question for the jury in all except the clearest cases.
More fundamentally, the rule for which the City argues would exonerate it no matter how negligent the City may have been and no matter how “active” that negligence may have been at the time. We might as well exonerate as a matter of law a defendant who leaves his car parked in the middle of the street on grounds that the car was open and obvious.
In prior cases involving hazards that were extremely “open and obvious”, this Court has not barred injured parties from recovery, but rather has left the issue to the jury properly instructed regarding comparative negligence. Where a defendant negligently creates an unreasonably unsafe condition in an area where the plaintiff has every right to be, that defendant may not escape liability by arguing that the condition was open and obvious.
Bell v. City of Bay St. Louis, 467 So. 2d 657, 664 (Miss. 1985)
Medical Bills Deemed Reasonable by Law In Mississippi
MS Code Section 41-9-119-Proof that medical, hospital, and doctor bills were paid or incurred because of an illness, disease, or injury shall be prima facie evidence that such bills so paid or incurred were necessary and reasonable.
Common Statutes of Limitations in Mississippi
- Wrongful Death – Three (3) years from the date of injury, under § 15-1-49 (subject to the qualifications above).
- Breach of Contract/Bad Faith Claims – Three (3) years, under Mississippi Code Ann. § 15-1-49.
- Intentional Torts – One (1) year, under Mississippi Code Ann. § 15-1-35.
- Action on a Mississippi Judgment or Decree – Seven (7) years, under Mississippi Code Ann. § 15-1-43.
- Breach of Warranty – Six (6) years, under Mississippi Code Ann. § 75-2-725(2).
- Bodily Injury/ Property Damage Claims – Under Miss Code Ann. § 15-1-49, the statute of limitations applicable to actions not otherwise specifically provided is three (3) years after the cause of action accrued. This statute applies to suits based on negligence, as well as actions on notes and other written contracts. Note the statute of limitations depends upon the underlying cause of action. If you are suing a state entity, the statute of limitations is one year; if you are suing for medical malpractice, the statute of limitations is two years. If the injury occurred as a result of an intentional tort, the statute of limitations is one year. The statute of limitations for latent injuries does not begin until such injuries are discovered, or should have been discovered by reasonable diligence.
Minor Settlements in Mississippi
Minor Settlement Mississippi requires court approval of all minor settlements. The test applied for approval is whether settlement is fair and reasonable under the circumstances, and protects the best interests of the child. By statute, the court may approve a minor settlement for less than $25,000 without appointment of a guardian or establishment of a guardianship account ; in practice, most Courts will appoint a guardian for all settlements exceeding $2,500. Otherwise, the Court must appoint a guardian for the minor to oversee administration of funds and establish a guardianship account. A guardian ad litem may also be appointed by the court (often at the carrier’s expense) to render an opinion as to reasonableness of the settlement. Practically speaking, the Court will rarely approve a settlement where the minor has not reached maximum medical improvement (MMI), unless the settlement is for policy limits. Both parents, if living, must be joined as defendants in proceedings to establish a guardian; however, only the custodial parent need be joined where custody has been awarded solely to that parent by decree of court. Pursuant to statute, any Medicaid lien must be satisfied out of the settlement proceeds. Otherwise, the carrier and its insured may be independently liable to Medicaid directly, and recoverable damages may exceed the amount of the liability policy limits. If the minor is fourteen (14) years or older, the Court may invite the minor’s comment as to settlement amount and selection of the guardian.