§ 143-119. Payments. - North Carolina Statutes

§ 143‑119. Payments.

(a)        The cost of care when fixed by the Secretary shall be paidby the person admitted or by the person legally responsible for payment. Thepayment of the cost of care constitutes a valid expenditure of funds held by afiduciary of a person admitted, including Clerks of Court, and a receipt forpayment of such costs shall be a valid voucher in the fiduciary's settlement ofhis accounts of his trust.

(b)        Immediately upon the determination of the cost, the personadmitted or the person legally responsible for paying the cost shall benotified of the amount due and a statement shall be rendered on a monthlybasis.

(c)        If the person admitted or the person legally responsible forpaying the cost is not able to pay the total cost due on a monthly basis, theSecretary may arrange for the payment of a portion of the cost monthly andextend the payments until the costs are paid or may arrange for any othermethod of payment.

(d)        The institutions shall maintain a list of all unpaidaccounts for audit by the State auditors.

(e)        The Secretary may discharge from the institution personsadmitted who have been found able to pay but who refuse to pay costs fixedagainst them, unless the person was committed by an order of a court ofcompetent jurisdiction. (1925, c. 120, s. 3; 1935, c. 186, s. 2; 1983, c. 23, s. 2; c. 806;1985, c. 508, s. 7.)