[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 42, Volume 2]
[Revised as of October 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 42CFR401.617]

[Page 22]
 
                         TITLE 42--PUBLIC HEALTH
 
                             HUMAN SERVICES
 
PART 401_GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS--Table of Contents
 
               Subpart F_Claims Collection and Compromise
 
Sec.  401.617  Suspension of collection action.

    (a) General conditions. CMS may temporarily suspend collection 
action on a claim if the following general conditions are met--
    (1) Amount of future recovery. CMS determines that future collection 
action may result in a recovery of an amount sufficient to justify 
periodic review and action on the claim by CMS during the period of 
suspension.
    (2) Statute of limitations. CMS determines that--
    (i) The applicable statute of limitations has been tolled, waived or 
has started running anew; or
    (ii) Future collections may be made by CMS through offset despite an 
applicable statute of limitations.
    (b) Basis for suspension. Bases on which CMS may suspend collection 
action on a particular claim include the following--
    (1) A debtor cannot be located; or
    (2) A debtor--
    (i) Owns no substantial equity in property;
    (ii) Is unable to make payment on CMS's claim or is unable to effect 
a compromise; and
    (iii) Has future prospects that justify retention of the claim.
    (c) Locating debtors. CMS will make every reasonable effort to 
locate missing debtors sufficiently in advance of the bar of an 
applicable statute of limitations to permit timely filing of a lawsuit 
to recover the amount of the claim.
    (d) Effect of suspension on liquidation of security. CMS will 
liquidate security, obtained in partial recovery of a claim, despite a 
decision under this section to suspend collection action against the 
debtor for the remainder of the claim.