§ 131E-48. Definitions. - North Carolina Statutes

Article 2A.

Garnishment for Debts Owed Public Hospitals.

§ 131E‑48.  Definitions.

As used in this Article, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

(1)        "Disposable earnings" means that part of thecompensation paid or payable for personal services, including wages, salary,commission, bonus, payments to a pension or retirement program, and othersimilar payments that remain after the deduction of any amounts required by lawto be withheld.

(2)        "Family" means a parent or parents and minorchildren or spouses that reside together.

(3)        "Family income of the debtor" means family incomeas set out in the annual federal poverty guidelines issued by the United StatesDepartment of Health and Human Services in effect at the time of the hearing,less the amount of the costs of the family's reasonable ongoing medical needs.

(4)        "Garnishee" means an employer liable forcompensation for personal services rendered or to be rendered by a person whois indebted to a public hospital for hospital services.

(5)        "Hospital services" means services rendered onlyby the public hospital.  Hospital services shall include professional chargesof any physician or medical student, but only if the physician or student is anemployee of the public hospital.

(6)        "Public hospital" means any hospital facilityoperated on a nonprofit basis, any hospital that is owned or operated by theState, or any hospital as defined in G.S. 159‑39(a). (1987 (Reg. Sess., 1988), c. 880, s. 1.)