Req. No. 8710 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 STATE OF OKLAHOMA 2nd Session of the 58th Legislature (2022) HOUSE BILL 3898 By: Kannady AS INTRODUCED An Act relating to liens; amending 42 O.S. 2021, Section 46, which relates to physician liens; requiring the lien amount to be the usual and customary amount; and providing an effective date. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 42 O.S. 2021, Section 46, is amended to read as follows: Section 46. A. Every physician who performs medical services or any other professional person who engages in the healing arts, within their scope of practice pur suant to Title 59 of the Oklahoma Statutes for any person injured as a result of the negligence or act of another, shall, if the i njured person asserts or maintains a claim against such other person for damages on account of such injuries, have a lien for the amount due for such medical or healing arts services upon that part going or belonging to the injured person of any recovery o r sum had or collected or to be collected by the injured person, or by the heirs, personal representative, or next of kin of the injured person in the event of his death, whether Req. No. 8710 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 by judgment, settlement, or compromise. Such lien shall be inferior to any lien or claim of any attorney handling the claim for or on behalf of the injured person. The lien shall not be applied or considered valid against any claim for amounts due pursuant to the provisions of Title 85A of the Oklahoma Statutes. B. In addition to the lien provided for in subsection A of this section, every physician or professional person licensed under Title 59 of the Oklahoma Statutes who performs medical or healing arts within their scope of practice for any person injured as a result of the negligence or act of another, shall have, if the injured person asserts or maintains a claim against an insurer, a lien for the amount due for such medical or healing arts services upon any monies payable by the insurer to the injured person. C. No lien which is provided for in this section shall be effective unless, before the payment of any monies to the injured person, the attorney for the injured person, or legal representative as compensation for such injuries or death: 1. A written notice is sent set ting forth a statement of the amount claimed, identifying the insurance policy or policies against which the lien is asserted, if any, and containing the name and address of the physician or professional person licensed under Title 59 of the Oklahoma Statu tes claiming the lien, the injured person, and the person, firm, or corporation against whom the claim is made, is filed on the mechanic's and materialman's lien docket in the Req. No. 8710 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 office of the county clerk of the county where the principal office of the physician or professional person licensed under Title 59 of the Oklahoma Statutes is located; and 2. The physician or professional person licensed under Title 59 of the Oklahoma Statutes sends, by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, a copy of such n otice with a statement of the date of filing thereof to the person, firm, or corporation against whom the claim is made and to the injured person. The physician or professional person licensed under Title 59 of the Oklahoma Statutes shall also send a copy of the notice to the attorney for the injured person, if the name and address of such attorney is known to the physician or professional person licensed under Title 59 of the Oklahoma Statutes. D. The liens provided for in this section may be enforced by civil action in the district court of the county where the lien was filed. Such an action shall be brought within one (1) ye ar after the physician or professional person licensed under Title 59 of the Oklahoma Statutes becomes aware of final judgment, se ttlement or compromise of the claim asserted or maintained by or on behalf of the injured person. The practice, pleading, and proceedings in the an action shall conform to the rules prescribed by the Oklahoma Pleading Code to the extent applicable. E. The amount of the lien provided for in section shall be the usual and customary amount charged by the facility filing the lien. Req. No. 8710 Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2022. 58-2-8710 JL 01/12/22