Opinion ID: 2637516
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: jurisdiction

Text: Boundary County initially rejected SHMC's application because it found that it did not have jurisdiction to hear this case pursuant to I.C. § 31-3511(2) and on appeal argues that this Court should affirm this determination. However, SHMC contends that it filed its application within the time parameters set forth in I.C. § 35-3505 as a delayed third-party application because SHMC had filed a request for Medicaid benefits on behalf of Edwina H. Edwina H.'s emergency medical services were rendered by SHMC on May 4, 2000. On June 23, Nancy Ryals, Boundary County deputy clerk in charge of indigency applications, was contacted by SHMC to find out the status of Edwina H.'s application for county assistance. Ryals informed SHMC that an application had not been filed, and even if an application was filed, it would be untimely at that point pursuant to I.C. § 31-3505(2). Ryals then advised SHMC that I.C. § 31-3505(4) allows for a delayed application when Medicaid is applied for within 90 days of medical service or admission. On July 7, a request was filed with Medicaid by SHMC on behalf of Edwina H. On July 11, the Medicaid request was denied because Edwina H. already had a pending application for Medicaid benefits that had been filed earlier. On July 14, 2000, SHMC submitted a third-party delayed application on behalf of Edwina H. with Boundary County. Ryals contacted the Idaho Department of Health & Welfare and spoke with Ms. Teddi Huggins about Edwina H.'s application. Huggins indicated that a former appeal by Edwina H. was pending and that Edwina H. did not need to make another request for Medicaid, because the previous Medicaid request, if granted, would provide Edwina H. with Medicaid benefits to cover this medical occurrence. On July 25, 2000, Boundary County responded by letter to SHMC returning Edwina H.'s application. The County stated that it did not have jurisdiction to entertain the case pursuant to I.C. § 31-3511(2) because the timing of filing of the application was improper. Looking strictly at the filing dates prescribed by I.C. § 31-3505, SHMC filed within the proper time limitations for a delayed third-party application. Since SHMC applied for Medicaid within 90 days of Edwina H.'s medical treatment, SHMC could file an application with Boundary County for county assistance within 180 days of Edwina H.'s medical treatment. I.C. § 31-3505(4)(a). The statute is silent on the subject of whether the Medicaid application may be rejected because it is a repetitious one or whether it is subject to rejection or denial for any other reason. The statute merely requires that a Medicaid application be filed in order to extend the time to file an indigency application with the county.