MARVIN MANDEL, Governor

2249

PERSON TO FILE THE REQUIRED REPORT, THE DEPARTMENT MAY
APPLY TO THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE
PERSON IS A RESIDENT, OR DOING BUSINESS, FOR AN ORDER TO
COMPEL THE FILING OF THE REPORT. FAILURE TO OBEY THE
ORDER SHALL BE PUNISHABLE AS CONTEMPT OF COURT.

(4) IN CONNECTION WITH SERVICES RENDERED BY
A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OR GRANTEE, THE INVESTIGATION OF
THE FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE PATIENT, A RESPONSIBLE
RELATIVE, OR OTHER PERSON WHO MAY BE LEGALLY CHARGEABLE
FOR HIS OR HER CARE, AND THE DETERMINATION OF THE AMOUNTS
OF PAYMENT AND COLLECTION THEREOF, MAY BE DELEGATED TO
THE POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OR GRANTEE WITH THE REQUIREMENT
THAT ALL LAWS AND REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO INVESTIGATION
OF FINANCIAL ABILITY AND SETTING OF AMOUNTS OF PAYMENT TO
BE CHARGED ARE FOLLOWED.

(5) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF
THIS SECTION, THE COLLECTION OF DELINQUENT ACCOUNTS AND
DEBTS SHALL BE HANDLED BY THE CENTRAL COLLECTION UNIT
CREATED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND FISCAL
PLANNING.

(C) (1) PAYMENTS SHALL BE MADE BY THE PATIENT, A
RESPONSIBLE RELATIVE OR OTHER PERSON WHO MAY BE LEGALLY
CHARGEABLE WITH HIS OR HER CARE. LIABILITY FOR PAYMENT
SHALL BE JOINT AND SEVERAL.

(2)    THE DEPARTMENT SHALL SPECIFY THE TIME
AND AMOUNT OF PAYMENTS. IT MAY FROM TIME TO TIME, MODIFY
ITS ORDERS AS TO PAYMENTS, AS CIRCUMSTANCES MAY WARRANT.
IN SETTING THE AMOUNTS OF PAYMENTS, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL
CONSIDER THE FINANCIAL MEANS OR ABILITIES OF THE PATIENT
AND RESPONSIBLE RELATIVES AND OTHER PERSONS, AND MAY
AGREE TO ACCEPT LESS THAN THE CHARGES ESTABLISHED FOR THE
CARE RECEIVED.

(3)    THE AMOUNT OF PAYMENTS CHARGED
RESPONSIBLE RELATIVES OF THE PATIENT, IF PAYMENT HAS BEEN
MADE FOR THE FIRST 30 MONTHS OF HOSPITALIZATION, SHALL
THEREAFTER NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF:

(A)    THE SUM OF ANY PROCEEDS OF
APPLICABLE INSURANCE, GROUP HEALTH PLAN, OR PREPAID
MEDICAL CARE PAID BY THE INSURER OR PLAN BY REASON OF
LIABILITY FOR THE PAYMENT OF OR REPAYMENT FOR THE COST OF
MEDICAL TREATMENT RENDERED THE PATIENT, OR;

(B)    15% OF THE CHARGE ESTABLISHED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.
CONTINUOUS HOSPITALIZATION MEANS AND INCLUDES ALL
HOSPITALIZATION WHERE SUCCESSIVE PERIODS OF INPATIENT
CARE ARE NOT SEPARATED BY ABSENCES IN EXCESS OF ONE YEAR.