Abstract:
North Carolina’s hospital lien law was enacted in 1935 to alleviate the burden on hospitals of treating accident victims who could not pay but would later recover substantial sums in damages from court actions or out-of-court settlements. The law offers illusory relief to medical providers and discomfits insurance carriers, attorneys, and court clerks who are uncertain of their obligations. The state legislature is reviewing a proposed statute that solves many of the problems contained in the original law.