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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>56047</law_id><section_number>32.1-325.2</section_number><catch_line>Department is payor of last resort</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>38.2-3500</reference><reference>8.01-66.9:2</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="32.1">Health</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="10">Department of Medical Assistance Services</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Insurers, including group health plans as defined in &#xA7; 607(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, self-insured plans, health services plans, service benefit plans, health maintenance organizations, managed care organizations, pharmacy benefits managers, or other parties that are, by <span class="dictionary">statute</span>, <span class="dictionary">contract</span>, or agreement legally responsible for payment of a claim for a health care item or service, are prohibited from including any clause in health care <span class="dictionary">contracts</span> which would exclude enrolling an individual or in making any payment for benefits to the individual or on the individual&#x2019;s behalf for health care when the individual is eligible for medical assistance. <a id="paragraph-205448" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/32.1-325.2/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Medical Assistance Services shall be the payor of last resort to any insurer, including a group health plan as defined in &#xA7; 607(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, a self-insured plan, a health services plan, a service benefit plan, a health maintenance organization, a managed care organization, a pharmacy benefits manager, or other <span class="dictionary">party</span> that is, by <span class="dictionary">statute</span>, <span class="dictionary">contract</span>, or agreement legally responsible for payment of a claim for a health care item or service for <span class="dictionary">persons</span> eligible for medical assistance in the Commonwealth. The above entities, as a condition of doing business in the Commonwealth, shall comply with the requirements set forth in 42 U.S.C. 1396a (a) (25) (I) (i)-(iv). <a id="paragraph-205449" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/32.1-325.2/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> To the extent the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Medical Assistance Services has made payment for medical services where a third <span class="dictionary">party</span> has a legal obligation to make payment for such services, the Commonwealth shall automatically acquire all rights to such payment from the third <span class="dictionary">party</span>. <a id="paragraph-205450" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/32.1-325.2/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> To the extent the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Medical Assistance Services is permitted by <span class="dictionary">law</span> to obtain recoveries from third parties, actions at <span class="dictionary">law</span> for such recoveries shall be decided under the same <span class="dictionary">laws</span>, rules and standards including applicable bases of liability and defenses as would apply if the individual receiving the services had brought the action directly; provided that nothing herein shall affect the sovereign immunity of the Commonwealth. <a id="paragraph-205451" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/32.1-325.2/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> The term &#x201C;insurer&#x201D; as used herein shall be deemed to include without limitation &#x201C;insurance carriers.&#x201D; <a id="paragraph-205452" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/32.1-325.2/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1986, c. 550; 1994, c. 213; 1996, c. 851; 2007, c. 535.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
