Alaska Statutes Title 47. Welfare, Social Services, and Institutions § 47.30.910. Payment of patient expenses

(a) A patient, the patient's spouse, or the patient's parent if the patient is under 18 years of age shall pay the charges for the care, transportation, and treatment of the patient when the patient is hospitalized under AS 47.30.670--47.30.915 at a state-operated facility, an evaluation facility, or a designated treatment facility providing services under AS 47.30.670--47.30.915. The patient, the patient's spouse, or the patient's parent if the patient is under 18 years of age shall make arrangements with a state-operated facility, an evaluation facility, or a designated treatment facility for payment of charges, including providing income information necessary to determine eligibility for benefits under AS 47.31. Charges assessed for services provided under AS 47.30.670--47.30.915 when a patient is hospitalized at a state-operated facility may not exceed the actual cost of care and treatment. The department may, when assessing charges for services provided at a state-operated facility, consider the ability to pay of a patient, a patient's spouse, or a patient's parent if the patient is under 18 years of age. In order to impose liability for a patient's cost of care at a state-operated facility, the department shall issue an order for payment within six months after the date on which the charge was incurred. The order remains in effect unless modified by subsequent court order or department order. The department may not impose liability for a patient's cost of care at a state-operated facility if the patient would otherwise meet the eligibility criteria, other than location of service, in AS 47.31.010.

(b) The department, the evaluation facility, or a designated treatment facility shall make reasonable efforts to determine whether the patient, the patient's spouse, or the patient's parent if the patient is under 18 years of age has a third-party payor or has the available means to substantially contribute to the payment of charges, or whether the patient is eligible for assistance under AS 47.31.

(c) If a patient is hospitalized at a state-operated facility and the patient, the patient's spouse, or the patient's parent if the patient is under 18 years of age fails to provide to the department information necessary to determine whether there is a third-party payor or available means to substantially contribute to the payment of charges, or whether the patient would, if not hospitalized at a state-operated facility, be eligible for assistance under AS 47.31, the department may issue an administrative order imposing full liability for the patient's actual cost of care on the patient, the patient's spouse, or the patient's parent if the patient is under 18 years of age. The order remains in effect unless modified by subsequent court order or department order.

(d) If a person who is hospitalized under AS 47.30.670--47.30.915 at an evaluation facility or a designated treatment facility cannot pay or substantially contribute to the payment of charges described under this section, the patient may apply for assistance under AS 47.31.

(e) The department may charge or accept money or property from a person for the care or treatment of a patient at a state-operated facility.

(f) Money paid by the patient or on the patient's behalf to the department under this section shall be deposited in the general fund.