AS Title 44, Chapter 77: Claims Against the State

Chapter 77. Claims Against the State. Sec. 44.77.010. Presentation of claims. (a) Except as provided in (d) of this section, every claim for reimbursement for money expended, or for compensation for labor, materials, or supplies furnished, or services given to or for the state, whether based on a contract or on a ratification, shall be promptly presented to the appropriate administrative or executive officer for approval and payment. (b) [Repealed, § 14 ch 105 SLA 1986.] (c) [Repealed, § 67 ch 106 SLA 1986.] (d) A claim that is governed by AS 36.30.560 — 36.30.699 is not governed by this chapter. Sec. 44.77.015. Claims for medical services. (a) For the purposes of filing claims for medical services provided under AS 47.07 or AS 47.25.120 — 47.25.300, “promptly,” in AS 44.77.010 (a), means within 12 months after the date of service or as provided in (b) of this section. Except as provided in (c) of this section, a claim may not be paid if it is not filed promptly; an inference to the contrary may not be drawn from AS 09.10.053 , AS 09.50.250 — 09.50.300, or AS 37.25.010 . (b) In accordance with (a) of this section, a claim may be considered to be filed promptly if (1) the claim was filed more than 12 months after the date of service because the medical provider had reason to believe that the beneficiary was ineligible for service under AS 47.07 or AS 47.25.120 — 47.25.300; (2) a court of competent jurisdiction or an administrative hearing officer finds that the beneficiary was eligible for service under AS 47.07 or AS 47.25.120 — 47.25.300 on the date of service; and (3) the claim is filed within 12 months after the date that the court or administrative finding is rendered. The beneficiary is responsible for notifying the medical provider of the judicial or administrative finding. The department shall make a good faith effort to notify the medical provider of the judicial or administrative finding if the department has reason to believe that services have been provided to the beneficiary. (c) The commissioner of health may authorize payment to a medical provider of a claim not promptly filed, upon good cause shown. (d) In this section, (1) “beneficiary” means a person who is found to be eligible to receive medical services under AS 47.07 or AS 47.25.120 — 47.25.300; (2) “medical provider” means a person, firm, corporation, association, or institution that, on the date of service, was approved to provide medical assistance, in accordance with regulations adopted by the Department of Health. Sec. 44.77.020. Disallowance by officer. (a) If the administrative or executive officer disallows all or part of the claim, the claimant may obtain a review of the officer's action by applying within 60 days to the Department of Administration, at Juneau, orally or in writing. (b) When the application is made, the officer who disallowed the claim shall transmit the claim and all papers and memoranda relating to the claim to the Department of Administration. (c) When it receives the claim, papers, and memoranda, the department shall reexamine the merits of the claim. (d) The department may adopt procedure consistent with law, and shall make its decision affirming, modifying, or reversing the action of the officer. The decision may be oral or written if made in the presence of the claimant; otherwise it must be written. Sec. 44.77.030. Disallowance by department. (a) If the Department of Administration disallows a claim or demand against the state, the Department of Administration shall give the claimant and the officer who approved the voucher a written notice setting out its reasons for the disallowance. (b) If the claim or demand is disallowed because the claimant or officer did not submit vouchers in proper form or did not comply with regulations of the Department of Administration for the presentation of claims or demands against the state, the claim or demand may be resubmitted in the proper form. (c) If the claim or demand is disallowed on its merits, the claimant or the officer who approved the voucher may give written notice of appeal to the Department of Administration from its original decision to disallow. This notice of appeal must be given to the department within 60 days after the claimant or officer receives a written notice of disallowance. Notice of the claimant or the officer to have the decision of the disbursing officer reviewed by the department is sufficient if it shows a desire to have the Department of Administration review its original decision to disallow and may be signed by the claimant, an agent of the claimant, or the officer who approved the voucher. Sec. 44.77.040. Hearing and judgment on appeal to department. (a) The Department of Administration, after consulting with the office of administrative hearings ( AS 44.64.010 ), shall fix a time for hearing the appeal and shall notify the claimant and the officer who approved the voucher and give them a reasonable opportunity to be heard. The hearing shall be conducted by the office of administrative hearings. (b) The department, after the hearing, may affirm, reverse, or modify its original decision. Upon acceptance by the claimant of the decision of the department or if the claimant does not obtain judicial review as set out in (c) of this section, the department shall make a disbursement from the proper appropriation for the sum the department finds due the claimant. (c) If the claimant does not accept the decision of the Department of Administration, the claimant may obtain judicial review of the decision in accordance with AS 44.62.560 — 44.62.570. A claimant may also bring an action under AS 09.50.250 — 09.50.300 at any time after one year has elapsed since the presentation of the claim under AS 44.77.010 , if no decision has been made by the department. Sec. 44.77.050. Witnesses and procedures. The Department of Administration may hear witnesses on a question of fact involved in an appeal and may authorize the deposition of an absent witness to be taken. The department may adopt regulations governing proceedings on appeal, and may administer oaths to witnesses appearing before it. False testimony before the department is perjury. Sec. 44.77.060. Request for attorney general's opinion. If a question of law is involved in a case before the Department of Administration, it may request a written opinion from the attorney general. Sec. 44.77.070. Applicability of AS 44.77.010 — 44.77.060. AS 44.77.010 — 44.77.060 do not apply to a department in the executive branch or to the legislative or judicial branches if that department or branch has adopted a mandatory claims and appeal procedure.