Missouri: Guarantor of Medical Bills

[rtgsdad]

Hello All,

I am a non-custodial father in Missouri, where the case is situated.  I pay about $2600/month right now in combined alimony and support, which is less than what I agreed to four years ago ($4350/month) and paid through the first two and a half or three years of divorce.  My gross income the year we divorced was slightly over $90,000, and has since fallen to a bit under $70,000, making the $4350/month impossible if I am to eat!  Actually...it's about my take-home pay now!

I am of course liable for half the medical/dental bills not paid by insurance (which I carry on the three children).  My ex-wife has sent me bills--statements--from a hospital, and initially I made a payment to her.  I later found out that she did not pay the money to the hospital.  When she demanded more money, through my attorney I wrote that I would gladly reimburse her for half the amount of any paid receipts she provided, but would not send her money simply based on a hospital statement.  She also tried to get me to pay all of a bill ($1497) by sending it twice, and claiming it was for separate incidents.

My question: in Missouri, who is the legal guarantor of medical bills incurred on behalf of a minor child?  The hospital told me at first it is whoever has insurance, then backpeddled and told me it was whoever authorized the treatment.  My ex has not paid some bills and the hospital has turned them over to a collections agency, which is coming after me now.  The collection agency tells me that the parents of a minor child are joint and severally liable for the child's medical bills, regardless of who authorizes the care.  If the collection agency is right, I could pay the hospital for half the bill, and still have the collection agency come after me if my ex fails to pay her share.  Oh, the agency would come after me in any case; I mean it would actually have the legal right to collect the debt from me and report me to a credit bureau for delinquent payment.  

Even if the collection agency is wrong, from what I can see, if I pay the money directly to my ex, and she does not use it to pay the medical bills, I remain liable for (at the very least) half the medical bills.  Thus my contention that I will only reimburse her for half of any paid receipts she presents me.

She is now taking me to small claims court on this, and I'd like to find out where I stand.  I'd prefer to go pro sé as I've spent about $12,000 thus far on a visitation dispute.

Thanks All!

[socrateaser]

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