California Department of Social Services - State Hearings Division
Notes from the Training Bureau - June 12, 2000

Item 00-06-01D
CDHS ACWDL 00-12 -- March 14, 2000 (Synopsis): Settlement of the Rocio R. v. Belshe case

Settlement of the Rocio R. v. Belshe case

Under the terms of the settlement in Rocio R., the CDHS may not seek repayment of Medi-Cal benefits that were legitimately received. A federal court issued an order pursuant to the settlement that required the CDHS to send a letter to immigrants whom DHS had advised by an earlier letter that they owed CDHS money for Medi-Cal benefits received. This more recent letter advised that the initial letter was wrong and that persons who received the initial letter did not have to repay CDHS for Medi-Cal benefits received.

The more recent letter also instructed such persons that they could get a refund for any money paid to DHS since March 19, 1996 until the present in response to the initial letter.