Ambulatory care and the law: lien claims where none exist as of right

The health care provider, whether an individual or an institution, needs to pay attention to appropriate mechanisms to ensure payment for services or repayment for benefits provided. While statutes provide some protection for large institutions, including health care providers, individual health care providers often are left to their own devices. The employment of a well drafted voluntary lien agreement can not only secure a right of recover against a patient, but where the patient pursues a personal injury claim through an attorney, can also give the health care provider recourse to patient's attorney. Knowing how to assert these liens, what funds are reachable by these lien, and what time factors must be adhered to in order to make the liens effective, are vital to a health care provider's financial well-being.