Title 7 . Health and Social Services

Chapter 35 . Embalming and Other Post-Mortem Services

Section 145. Claims for services

7 AAC 35.145. Claims for services

(a) The department will pay costs described at AS 12.65.025 (a), (b), or (c) subject to legislative appropriation and the limitation of this section.

(b) A medical examiner, funeral director, embalmer, state agency or common carrier shall submit a claim to the department for payment of a cost described at AS 12.65.025 by delivering the claim to the division as directed by the division. A claim authorized by this subsection must include

(1) the name and address of the claimant;

(2) the date when and location at which services were provided;

(3) the state medical examiner's accession number and name of the deceased;

(4) an itemized description of the services and goods provided;

(5) the name and address to which payment should be directed;

(6) the names and addresses of all other persons to whom the claimant has submitted or will submit claims for goods and services related to the deceased, the amounts of any such claims, and the nature of the services for which the claims were or will be made.

(c) A person or state agency may submit a claim to the department for payment of a cost described at AS 12.65.025 (b) or (c) only if he or she is authorized to provide those services under AS 08.42 and only if the department has authorized the person to provide clothing and a casket for, or cremation and inurnment of, the deceased. A claim authorized under this subsection must include the information required under (b) of this section and, in addition, must include the name, address, and relationship to the deceased of the person legally responsible for burial of the deceased.

(d) A person responsible for the final disposition of the deceased may request that the department authorize the provision of clothing and a casket for the deceased, or cremation and interment of the deceased, as follows:

(1) A request must include

(A) the name of the deceased;

(B) the name and address of the person making the request;

(C) the current location of the deceased;

(D) a statement that all persons responsible for the final disposition of the deceased are eligible for assistance under AS 47.25.120 - 47.25.300 or are otherwise unable to pay the costs described at AS 12.65.025 (b) or (c).

(2) A person may make a request under (d)(1) of this subsection orally if the department finds that the person cannot deliver a written request to the department without undue delay or inconvenience. A person who makes an oral request must submit a written confirmation of the request to the department within 30 days after making the oral request.

(e) In its discretion, the department will investigate a claim to determine whether goods and services were actually provided, whether the goods and services provided were ordered by the state medical examiner, or whether the goods and services were necessary. The department will, in its discretion, delay payment of the costs claimed for a reasonable time pending investigation. The department will not pay costs for goods or services if it finds that the goods or services were not provided or were not related to an autopsy or post-mortem examination by the state medical examiner or the state medical examiner's designee. The department will not pay the costs of cosmetology that it finds was not necessary to make the head, face, and hands of the deceased presentable after those parts were disfigured by an autopsy.

(f) Except for contracts for services for a local, regional, and district medical examiner under AS 12.65.015 , the department will pay no more for the costs described in AS 12.65.025 than the lower of either the amount charged by the claimant to the general public for the same goods or service, or the maximum amount or rate set in this subsection, as follows:

(1) embalming - $500;

(2) restoration of the body and wound repair after the autopsy - $100;

(3) body storage

(A) first five days - $0;

(B) 6th through 30th days - $15 a day;

(C) upon prior approval by the state medical examiner and with notice to the department after 30 days - $15 a day;

(4) facility use and administration for medical examination involving internal examination by autopsy - $115;

(5) if a state-transfer case is unavailable, as determined by the state medical examiner, transfer case rental (round-trip) - $50;

(6) transportation of human remains by a funeral director, embalmer, medical examiner, or state agency

(A) $100 unless otherwise approved by the state medical examiner;

(B) each mile that the remains are transported in excess of 25 miles, upon prior approval by the state medical examiner - $2;

(C) actual costs of ferry charges or tolls (include receipts with billing).

(g) A person who enters into a contract with the state medical examiner for services described in AS 12.65.025 or provides services for payment by the state medical examiner agrees that

(1) the state may audit the financial records of the person;

(2) the person will not, pending payment of a claim, delay provision of services or delay the return of a body to persons responsible for the burial of the body; and

(3) the person will not bill the family or person making final disposition of the deceased for services for which the state will pay under AS 12.65.025 .

History: Eff. 8/2/84, Register 91; am 11/29/84, Register 92; am 2/21/92, Register 121; am 7/16/92, Register 123; am 6/2/93, Register 126; am 4/1/99, Register 149

Authority: AS 12.65.015

AS 12.65.025

AS 18.05.040