NC H626

Medical facilities and professionals performing forensic medical examinations on sexual assault victims shall not bill victims, their personal insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, or other collateral sources for examination costs and related eligible expenses.

The Secretary of Public Safety must assess a civil penalty of $25,000 for each violation of the no-billing requirement, with penalty proceeds remitted to the Civil Penalty and Forfeiture Fund.

Medical facilities and professionals cannot seek reimbursement from the assistance program more than one year after the examination date.

"Forensic medical examination" is defined to include physical trauma examination, patient interview, determination of penetration or force, evidence collection and evaluation, and associated costs for equipment, supplies, and facility fees, consistent with federal law 28 C.F.R. § 90.2(c).

The North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission may use up to $14,000 in nonrecurring funds from the 2020-2021 fiscal year for outside counsel litigation services approved by the Governor.