1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to human services; modifying provisions governing medical assistance 
1.3 	claims and liens; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.15, 
1.4 	subdivisions 1a, 5.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.15, subdivision 1a, is amended to 
1.7 	read:
1.8 		Subd. 1a.Estates subject to claims. If a person receives any medical assistance 
1.9 	hereunder, on the person's death, if single, or on the death of the survivor of a married 
1.10 	couple, either or both of whom received medical assistance, or as otherwise provided 
1.11 	for in this section, the total amount paid for medical assistance rendered for the person 
1.12 	and spouse shall be filed as a claim against the estate of the person or the estate of the 
1.13 	surviving spouse in the court having jurisdiction to probate the estate or to issue a decree 
1.14 	of descent according to sections 525.31 to 525.313. 
1.15 	A claim shall be filed if medical assistance was rendered for either or both persons 
1.16 	under one of the following circumstances:
1.17 	(a) the person was over 55 years of age, and received services under this chapter;
1.18 	(b) the person resided in a medical institution for six months or longer, received 
1.19 	services under this chapter, and, at the time of institutionalization or application for 
1.20 	medical assistance, whichever is later, the person could not have reasonably been expected 
1.21 	to be discharged and returned home, as certified in writing by the person's treating 
1.22 	physician. For purposes of this section only, a "medical institution" means a skilled 
1.23 	nursing facility, intermediate care facility, intermediate care facility for persons with 
1.24 	developmental disabilities, nursing facility, or inpatient hospital; or
2.1 	(c) the person received general assistance medical care services under chapter 256D.
2.2 	The claim shall be considered an expense of the last illness of the decedent for the 
2.3 	purpose of section 524.3-805. Any statute of limitations that purports to limit any county 
2.4 	agency or the state agency, or both, to recover for medical assistance granted hereunder 
2.5 	shall not apply to any claim made hereunder for reimbursement for any medical assistance 
2.6 	granted hereunder. Notice of the claim shall be given to all heirs and devisees of the 
2.7 	decedent, and to other persons with an ownership interest in the real property owned by 
2.8 	the decedent at the time of the decedent's death,  whose identity can be ascertained with 
2.9 	reasonable diligence. The notice must include procedures and instructions for making an 
2.10 	application for a hardship waiver under subdivision 5; time frames for submitting an 
2.11 	application and determination; and information regarding appeal rights and procedures. 
2.12 	Counties are entitled to one-half of the nonfederal share of medical assistance collections 
2.13 	from estates that are directly attributable to county effort. Counties are entitled to ten 
2.14 	percent of the collections for alternative care directly attributable to county effort. 

2.15 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 256B.15, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
2.16 		Subd. 5.Undue hardship. (a) Any person entitled to notice in subdivision 1a has a 
2.17 	right to apply for waiver of the claim based upon undue hardship. Any claim pursuant to 
2.18 	this section may be fully or partially waived because of undue hardship. Undue hardship 
2.19 	does not include action taken by the decedent which divested or diverted assets in order 
2.20 	to avoid estate recovery. Any waiver of a claim must benefit the person claiming undue 
2.21 	hardship. The commissioner shall have authority to hear claimant appeals, pursuant to 
2.22 	section 256.045, when an application for a hardship waiver is denied in whole or part. 
2.23 	(b) This paragraph applies to a claim against the decedent's real property if an 
2.24 	individual other than the recipient's spouse had an ownership interest in the property at 
2.25 	the time of the decedent's death and actually and continuously occupied the real property 
2.26 	as the individual's dwelling place for at least 180 days before the date the decedent 
2.27 	died. If the real property is classified as homestead property for property tax purposes 
2.28 	under section 273.124, no claim may be made until the individual no longer resides in 
2.29 	the property or until the property is sold or transferred. The amount of the homestead not 
2.30 	subject to adjustment or recovery under this paragraph is limited to the area and value 
2.31 	provided under section 510.02.