If a patient at a health facility operated by the county either directly or through contract is received in a comatose condition or suffering from amnesia and dies before he is able to cooperate in providing information necessary to a determination of Medi-Cal eligibility, the patient shall be presumed eligible. However, such presumption may be rebutted by the department. All costs incurred in providing care to such patient under such presumption shall be reimbursable to the extent permitted by federal statutes and regulations. If such a patient subsequently is determined ineligible, the department shall make reasonable efforts to recover the costs of care incurred during the period of presumptive eligibility and shall have the right to seek restitution in a civil action.
(Added by Stats. 1978, Ch. 101.)