Title 28—Judicial Administration--Volume 1
PART 43—RECOVERY OF COST OF HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL CARE AND TREATMENT FURNISHED BY THE UNITED STATES
§ 43.1   Administrative determination and assertion of claims.
(a) The head of a Department or Agency of the United States responsible for the furnishing of hospital, medical, surgical or dental care and treatment (including prostheses and medical appliances), or his designee, shall determine whether such hospital, medical, surgical or dental care and treatment was or will be furnished for an injury or disease caused under circumstances entitling the United States to recovery under the Act of September 25, 1962 (Pub. L. 87-693); and, if it is so determined, shall, subject to the provisions of § 43.3, assert a claim against such third person for the reasonable value of such care and treatment. The Department of Justice, or a Department or Agency responsible for the furnishing of such care and treatment may request any other Department or Agency to investigate, determine, or assert a claim under the regulations in this part.
(b) Each Department or Agency is authorized to implement the regulations in this part to give full force and effect thereto.
(c) The provisions of the regulations in this part shall not apply with respect to hospital, medical, surgical, or dental care and treatment (including prostheses and medical appliances) furnished by the Veterans Administration to an eligible veteran for a service-connected disability under the provisions of chapter 17 of title 38 of the U.S. Code.
§ 43.2   Obligations of persons receiving care and treatment.
(a) In the discretion of the Department or Agency concerned, any person furnished care and treatment under circumstances in which the regulations in this part may be applicable, his guardian, personal representative, estate, dependents or survivors may be required:
(1) To assign in writing to the United States his claim or cause of action against the third person to the extent of the reasonable value of the care and treatment furnished or to be furnished, or any portion thereof;
(2) To furnish such information as may be requested concerning the circumstances giving rise to the injury or disease for which care and treatment is being given and concerning any action instituted or to be instituted by or against a third person;
(3) To notify the Department or Agency concerned of a settlement with, or an offer of settlement from, a third person; and
(4) To cooperate in the prosecution of all claims and actions by the United States against such third person.
(b) [Reserved]
§ 43.3   Settlement and waiver of claims.
(a) The head of the Department or Agency of the United States asserting such claim, or his or her designee, may:
(1) Accept the full amount of a claim and execute a release therefor;
(2) Compromise or settle and execute a release of any claim, not in excess of $300,000, which the United States has for the reasonable value of such care and treatment; or
(3) Waive and in this connection release any claim, not in excess of $300,000, in whole or in part, either for the convenience of the Government, or if the head of the Department or Agency, or his or her designee, determines that collection would result in undue hardship upon the person who suffered the injury or disease resulting in the care and treatment described in § 43.1.
(b) Claims in excess of $300,000 may be compromised, settled, waived, and released only with the prior approval of the Department of Justice.
(c) The authority granted in this section shall not be exercised in any case in which:
(1) The claim of the United States for such care and treatment has been referred to the Department of Justice; or
(2) A suit by the third party has been instituted against the United States or the individual who received or is receiving the care and treatment described in § 43.1 and the suit arises out of the occurrence which gave rise to the third-party claim of the United States.
(d) The Departments and Agencies concerned shall consult the Department of Justice in all cases involving:
(1) Unusual circumstances;
(2) A new point of law which may serve as a precedent; or
(3) A policy question where there is or may be a difference of views between any of such Departments and Agencies.
§ 43.4   Annual reports.
The head of each Department or Agency concerned, or his designee, shall report annually to the Attorney General, by March 1, commencing in 1964, the number and dollar amount of claims asserted against, and the number and dollar amount of recoveries from third persons.