Effective 28 Aug 2011

630.210. Charges for pay patients — each facility considered a separate unit — director to determine rules for means test and domicile verification — failure to pay, effect — exceptions, emergency treatment for transients — waiver of means test for certain children, when. — 1. The director shall determine the maximum amount for services which shall be charged in each of the residential facilities, day programs or specialized services operated or funded by the department for full-time or part-time inpatient, resident or outpatient evaluation, care, treatment, habilitation, rehabilitation or other service rendered to persons affected by mental disorder, mental illness, intellectual disability, developmental disability, or drug or alcohol abuse. The maximum charge shall be related to the per capita inpatient cost or actual outpatient evaluation or other service costs of each facility, program or service, which may vary from one locality to another. The director shall promulgate rules setting forth a reasonable standard means test which shall be applied by all facilities, programs and services operated or funded by the department in determining the amount to be charged to persons receiving services. The department shall pay, out of funds appropriated to it for such purpose, all or part of the costs for the evaluation, care, treatment, habilitation, rehabilitation or room and board provided or arranged by the department for any patient, resident or client who is domiciled in Missouri and who is unable to pay fully for services.

2. The director shall apply the standard means test annually and may make application of the test upon his own initiative or upon request of an interested party whenever evidence is offered tending to show that the current support status of any patient, resident or client is no longer proper. Any change of support status shall be retroactive to the date of application or request for review. If the persons responsible to pay under section 630.205 or 552.080 refuse to cooperate in providing information necessary to properly apply the test or if retroactive benefits are paid on behalf of the patient, resident or client, the charges may be retroactive to a date prior to the date of application or request for review. The decision of the director in determining the amount to be charged for services to a patient, resident or client shall be final. Appeals from the determination may be taken to the circuit court of Cole County or the county where the person responsible for payment resides in the manner provided by chapter 536.

3. The department shall not pay for services provided to a patient, resident or client who is not domiciled in Missouri unless the state is fully reimbursed for the services; except that the department may pay for services provided to a transient person for up to thirty days pending verification of his domiciliary state, and for services provided for up to thirty days in an emergency situation. The director shall promulgate rules for determination of the domiciliary state of any patient, resident or client receiving services from a facility, program or service operated or funded by the department.

4. Whenever a patient, resident or client is receiving services from a residential facility, day program or specialized service operated or funded by the department, and the state, county, municipality, parent, guardian or other person responsible for support of the patient, resident or client fails to pay any installment required to be paid for support, the department or the residential facility, day program or specialized service may discharge the patient, resident or client as provided by chapter 31. The patient, resident or client shall not be discharged under this subsection until the final disposition of any appeal filed under subsection 2 of this section.

5. The standard means test may be waived for a child in need of mental health services to avoid inappropriate custody transfers to the children's division. The department of mental health shall notify the child's parent or custodian that the standard means test may be waived. The department of mental health shall promulgate rules for waiving the standard means test. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028. This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2004, shall be invalid and void.

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(L. 1980 H.B. 1724, A.L. 1981 H.B. 399, A.L. 1982 H.B. 1565, A.L. 1993 S.B. 52, A.L. 2004 S.B. 1003, A.L. 2011 H.B. 555 merged with H.B. 648)