Medical liens; insurance coverage
One notable impact of HB 2693 is that it establishes clear priorities among various liens, particularly giving hospitals priority payment over others when liens are perfected under this article. Furthermore, the bill importantly addresses the assignment of claims for counties providing health care services, thus ensuring that counties are also compensated for their expenditures in treating injured persons.
House Bill 2693 aims to amend section 33-931 of the Arizona Revised Statutes to clarify the procedures and entitlements regarding health care provider liens. This legislation allows licensed health care providers to place liens on the damages recovered by injured persons to ensure they are compensated for the medical services rendered. The bill specifies that the lien is applicable for customary charges related to the treatment or transportation of injured persons and extends to claims of liability, excluding health insurance and certain coverages.
There are some contentious points within the bill, particularly regarding the exemptions of certain claims from the lien or assignment processes. For instance, it stipulates that one-third of any third-party judgment, settlement, or award is exempt from being claimed under the lien, which raises questions about the balance of rights between health care providers and the injured parties. Additionally, the bill allows health care providers to enforce liens or assignments for amounts for which a patient is personally responsible, including coinsurance and deductibles under their insurance plans, potentially complicating how financial liabilities are managed.