Opinion ID: 1850348
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Statutory and Legal Authority

Text: ¶ 49. Next, the Partnership asserts that the Governor, Division of Medicaid and MHCTF have no statutory or legal authority to intervene. As to the Governor, the Partnership contends that Miss.Code Ann. § 7-1-5(n) (Rev.2002) does not authorize the Governor to intervene. [14] However, we see no reason to address section 7-1-5(n) because it is abundantly clear that section 7-1-5(a) and (c) confirm the Governor's power to intervene. Section 7-1-5(a) states He [the Governor] is the supreme executive officer of the state; and section 7-1-5(c) further provides He [the Governor] shall see that the laws are faithfully executed. These exact principles are also set out in article 5, sections 116, 123, of the Mississippi Constitution (1890). [15] Therefore, the Governor unquestionably has not only the statutory, but also the constitutional authority to intervene. In fact, the Governor is under a solemn duty to act in order to assure faithful execution of our laws. ¶ 50. Next, the Partnership contends that the Division of Medicaid does not have authority to intervene. In particular, the Partnership cites Frazier v. State By and Through Pittman, 504 So.2d 675, 692 n. 16 (Miss.1987), for the proposition all state agencies are still duty bound to follow any statutory regulations concerning that agency's ability to bring a lawsuit. The Partnership thus asserts that unless the statute gives the agency the power to sue, the agency does not have the power to sue. The Partnership likewise states that while the Division of Medicaid does have authority to bring suit under Miss.Code Ann. § 43-13-121(1)(I) (Rev. 2004), this authority does not include matters regarding MHCTF. Essentially, the Partnership contends MHCTF is outside the scope of the Division of Medicaid's statutory authority. ¶ 51. However, the Division of Medicaid does have a compelling interest to see that the annual payments of $20 million are placed in the Health Care Trust Fund. In fact, back in 1994, the Attorney General initially brought suit for the express purpose of recouping monies expended by the State of Mississippi through the Division of Medicaid in caring for their fellow citizens who have and are suffering from lung cancer; cardiovascular disease; emphysema; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; and a variety of other cancers and diseases that were and are caused by cigarettes. Inasmuch as the state of Mississippi is now recovering such tobacco funds as a result of monies spent by the Division of Medicaid, we find somewhat disingenuous the Partnership's argument that the Division of Medicaid has no authority to intervene because MHCTF is purportedly beyond the scope of the Division of Medicaid's statutory authority. Therefore, we hold that the Division of Medicaid had authority to intervene, especially, since the theory and purpose of the litigation was to replace money appropriated to and expended by the Division of Medicaid. ¶ 52. Lastly, the Partnership argues that MHCTF does not have proper authority to intervene. The Partnership again asserts that MHCTF must be authorized by statute to file suit. The Partnership insists that Miss.Code Ann. § 43-13-409(6) (Rev.2004), which enumerates MHCTF's powers, does not grant MHCTF authority to sue. Section 43-13-409(6) provides, inter alia, that MHCTF shall have such powers as necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes and provisions of this article, including, but not limited to, the following express powers: (a) To contract for necessary goods and services, to employ necessary personnel, and to engage the services of consultants for administrative and technical assistance in carrying out its duties and responsibilities in administering the Health Care Trust Fund and the Health Care Expendable Fund. This is no doubt a broad grant of statutory authority that ultimately gives MHCTF the power to sue. MHCTF asserts that the funds diverted to the Partnership rightfully belong to MHCTF, and that section 43-13-406(6) thus authorizes MHCTF to sue to recoup such funds. ¶ 53. While it is true that the Attorney General is indeed the attorney for the State to represent the people's interest[,] . . . [i]f an Attorney General declines to file a suit referred to him by a state agency, where the matter is of serious concern to state government, then that agency . . . is at least entitled to have some court pass upon whether it should have its full day in court. Frazier, 504 So.2d at 691. Thus, [t]he Attorney General's refusal to represent the agency does not deprive the court of the authority to keep jurisdiction and entertain the suit. Id. However, if the suit is outside the official concern of the agency, the court unquestionably has the authority to dismiss the suit. The Governor, Division of Medicaid and MHCTF all have previously referred today's case to the Attorney General, who declined to take action; and the chancery court determined that the suit was within the official concern of the Governor, Division of Medicaid and MHCTF. Therefore, the chancery court was correct in its interpretation of Frazier, and the motion to intervene cannot be set aside for a perceived lack of statutory or legal authority.