All nursing facilities certified under the medical assistance program shall participate in Medicare part A and part B with respect to at least thirty percent of the beds in the facility unless, after submitting an application, Medicare certification is denied by the federal health care financing administration. The facility shall file on behalf of each patient or assist each patient in the filing of requests for any third-party benefits to which the patient may be entitled. Charges for Medicare-covered services provided to residents who are simultaneously eligible for medical assistance and medicare must be billed to Medicare part A or part B before billing medical assistance. Medical assistance may be billed only for charges not reimbursed by Medicare.
N.D.C.C. § 50-24.4-27