GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1991

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1045

Short Title:  DOC Audits.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Representative Flaherty.
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Referred to:  Appropriations.
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April 22, 1991

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT HOSPITALS PROVIDING MEDICAL CARE TO INMATES IN THE CUSTODY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION SHALL PERMIT THE DEPARTMENT TO AUDIT INMATE RECORDS WITHOUT CHARGING A FEE.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  Article 1 of Chapter 148 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 148-10.2. Hospitals may not charge for audits.
Any hospital in this State that provides medical treatment to an inmate in the custody of the Department of Correction shall permit the Department of Correction or any of its auditing contract agents to conduct audits of the medical records of any such inmate upon request.  The hospital may not charge a fee for allowing an audit or for providing necessary copies of bills involved in an audit, and may not impose any unreasonable conditions or restrictions upon the auditing contractor's access to inmate records. If the audit reveals that the Department was overcharged for services to inmates, the hospital shall provide the Department with the appropriate refund."
Sec. 2.  This act is effective upon ratification.