North Carolina § 44-51 - Disputed claims to be settled before payments.

§ 44-51. Disputed claims to be settled before payments.

Whenever the sum or amount or amounts demanded for medical services or hospital fees shall be in dispute, nothing in this Article shall have any effect of compelling payment thereof until the claim is fully established and determined, in the manner provided by law: Provided, however, that when any such sums are in dispute the amount of the lien shall in no case exceed the amount of the bills in dispute. This section shall not apply to amounts owed to the State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees for past-due account receivables related to claims payments. History (1935, c. 121, s. 3; 1943, c. 543; 2018-52, s. 5(d).) Editor's Note. - Session Laws 2018-52 provides in its preamble: "Whereas, the employee benefit programs operated by the Department of State Treasurer are an intergenerational partnership between public employees and taxpayers of the State, it is incumbent upon the administrators of those programs to provide for Financial Accountability, Integrity, and Recovery of assets (FAIRness); and "Whereas, taxpayers should expect FAIRness in these employee benefit programs, and the Department of State Treasurer should be provided all tools necessary to promote that goal; and "Whereas, public employees who are participants in these employee benefit programs by virtue of deductions from compensation should also expect FAIRness as a baseline in the operation of these programs; and "Whereas, future generations of North Carolinians benefit from fiscally responsible management provided by FAIRness of these employee benefit programs by the current generation; Now, therefore," Session Laws 2018-52, s. 1, provides: "This act shall be known and cited as the 'Financial Accountability, Integrity, and Recovery Act of 2018'." Session Laws 2018-52, s. 5(e), provides, in part: "Priority of the State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees' lien over nongovernmental liens and rights created under this section shall apply only to nongovernmental liens and rights that have attached to the applicable property on or after the effective date of this act." Session Laws 2018-52, s. 5(d), added subsection (b). Effect of Amendments. - Session Laws 2018-52, s. 5(d), effective June 25, 2018, added subsection (b). For applicability, see editor's note.