Section 500.3173a - Eligibility for benefits; initial determination; denial; notice; false statement(1) The Michigan automobile insurance placement facility shall review a claim for personal protection insurance benefits under the assigned claims plan, shall make an initial determination of the eligibility for benefits under this chapter and the assigned claims plan, and shall deny a claim that the Michigan automobile insurance placement facility determines is ineligible under this chapter or the assigned claims plan. If a claimant or person making a claim through or on behalf of a claimant fails to cooperate with the Michigan automobile insurance placement facility as required by subsection (2), the Michigan automobile insurance placement facility shall suspend benefits to the claimant under the assigned claims plan. A suspension under this subsection is not an irrevocable denial of benefits, and must continue only until the Michigan automobile insurance placement facility determines that the claimant or person making a claim through or on behalf of a claimant cooperates or resumes cooperation with the Michigan automobile insurance placement facility. The Michigan automobile insurance placement facility shall promptly notify in writing the claimant and any person that submitted a claim through or on behalf of a claimant of a denial and the reasons for the denial.(2) A claimant or a person making a claim through or on behalf of a claimant shall cooperate with the Michigan automobile insurance placement facility in its determination of eligibility and the settlement or defense of any claim or suit, including, but not limited to, submitting to an examination under oath and compliance with sections 3151 to 3153. There is a rebuttable presumption that a person has satisfied the duty to cooperate under this section if all of the following apply: (a) The person submitted a claim for personal protection insurance benefits under the assigned claims plan by submitting to the Michigan automobile insurance placement facility a complete application on a form provided by the Michigan automobile insurance placement facility in accordance with the assigned claims plan.(b) The person provided reasonable proof of loss under the assigned claims plan as described in section 3172.(c) If required under this subsection to submit to an examination under oath, the person submitted to the examination, subject to all of the following:(i) The person was provided at least 21 days' notice of the examination.(ii) The examination was conducted in a location reasonably convenient for the person.(iii) Any reasonable request by the person to reschedule the date, time, or location of the examination was accommodated.(3) The Michigan automobile insurance placement facility may perform its functions and responsibilities under this section and the assigned claims plan directly or through an insurer assigned by the Michigan automobile insurance placement facility to administer the claim on behalf of the Michigan automobile insurance placement facility. The assignment of a claim by the Michigan automobile insurance placement facility to an insurer is not a determination of eligibility under this chapter or the assigned claims plan, and a claim assigned to an insurer by the Michigan automobile insurance placement facility may later be denied if the claim is not eligible under this chapter or the assigned claims plan.(4) A person who presents or causes to be presented an oral or written statement, including computer-generated information, as part of or in support of a claim to the Michigan automobile insurance placement facility, or to an insurer to which the claim is assigned under the assigned claims plan, for payment or another benefit knowing that the statement contains false information concerning a fact or thing material to the claim commits a fraudulent insurance act under section 4503 that is subject to the penalties imposed under section 4511. A claim that contains or is supported by a fraudulent insurance act as described in this subsection is ineligible for payment of personal protection insurance benefits under the assigned claims plan.(5) The Michigan automobile insurance placement facility may contract with other persons for all or a portion of the goods and services necessary for operating and maintaining the assigned claims plan.Amended by 2019, Act 21,s 44, eff. 6/11/2019.Amended by 2012, Act 204,s 5, eff. 9/1/2012.Add. 1984, Act 426, Eff. 3/29/1985.Act 143 of 1993, which amended this section, was submitted to the people by referendum petition (as Proposal C) and rejected by a majority of the votes cast at the November 8, 1994, general election.Enacting section 1 of Act 204 of 2012 provides:"Enacting section 1. Sections 3172, 3173a, 3174, and 3175 of the insurance code of 1956, 1956 PA 218, MCL 500.3172, 500.3173a, 500.3174, and 500.3175, as amended by this amendatory act, take effect on the date the assigned claims plan is approved by the insurance commissioner under section 3171(3) of the insurance code of 1956, 1956 PA 218, MCL 500.3171."