Title 14 Children

14-2-1003. Birth cost recovery-medical assistance.

(a) Not more than sixty (60) days after an unmarried recipient of medical assistance gives birth to a child, the department of health shall notify the department of family services of the actual amount of birth costs paid by medical assistance. (b) Upon receiving notice pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the department shall determine whether the paternity of the child has been established. (c) Consistent with W.S. 42-4-106(b), if paternity has been established based on an acknowledgment made pursuant to W.S. 14-2-601, the department shall, in writing, request the father to pay the amount of birth costs established pursuant to W.S. 14-2-1004. (d) Within ninety (90) days of a request made pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, if the father has not made full payment or has not made arrangements for full payment to the satisfaction of the department, the department shall commence a civil action in accordance with W.S. 14-2-204 to recover the amount of birth costs established pursuant to W.S. 14-2-1004. (e) If paternity has not been established, the department, in cooperation with the mother of the child, shall use any means authorized by law to determine the paternity of the child, subject to W.S. 42-4-122(b)(ii). (f) Consistent with W.S. 42-4-106(b), if the father of the child is identified by the department pursuant to subsection (e) of this section, the department shall bring a civil action to adjudicate paternity and recover the amount of birth costs established pursuant to W.S. 42-4-1004 from the father, in the manner set forth in W.S. 14-2-822. (g) The department shall not take any of the actions set forth in this section on or after the fifth birthday of the child.