36-545.01. Payment of costs and expenses; ability to pay; power and duty of court; acceptance of other benefits; per capita cost limitation; guardians; parental liability; lien; duty of county attorney

A. When a patient is admitted to the state hospital for court-ordered treatment pursuant to article 5 of this chapter or pursuant to section 13-3994, the business manager of the state hospital shall inquire into the ability of the patient to pay the costs of examination, maintenance and treatment. The business manager shall file with the clerk of the court a written report of the manager's findings and the basis of those findings.

B. If the patient is able to pay all or any portion of the charges, the court shall order the payment of the amount the patient can afford of the per capita cost for examination, treatment and maintenance as estimated by the superintendent. The court, on petition of an interested person and at a hearing of which all concerned parties have received notice, may increase or decrease the maintenance charge payable by the patient or the patient's estate.

C. Notwithstanding subsection B of this section, any federal, state, public or private medical benefits that are payable to the state hospital where the patient is receiving care and treatment or that are payable to the patient may be accepted by the state hospital without a court order, except that the state hospital shall not accept any such benefits that alone or in addition to any amounts payable pursuant to subsection B of this section exceed the per capita cost for the patient.

D. The court, if necessary, may appoint a conservator of the patient to carry out this section. If a conservator is appointed, the clerk of the court shall file a certificate so stating. All proceedings relating to that conservatorship shall be had as provided by law for conservators of estates. The conservator shall pay the amount ordered by the court pursuant to subsection B of this section.

E. If the patient is a minor, the business manager of the state hospital shall inquire into the ability of the minor's parents to bear charges pursuant to this section. All obligations, charges and liens that may be imposed on a patient pursuant to this section shall be imposed on the minor's parents if it is determined that the parents have the ability to pay.

F. The charges fixed by the court as provided by this section and ordered paid by the patient or the patient's estate, on filing with the county recorder, become a lien on the property of the patient or the patient's estate.

G. The county attorney of each county, on an order of a judge of the superior court, shall enforce the lien and collect the charges from the person ordered to pay if the charges become delinquent.

H. Costs of examination, treatment and maintenance shall not be charged to any patient found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unlawfully detained.

I. Notwithstanding section 36-545.02, the department shall deposit, pursuant to sections 35-146 and 35-147, monies collected through contracts entered into pursuant to section 36-3410 in the Arizona state hospital fund established by section 36-545.08. The department shall use these monies for the treatment of patients at the state hospital or for the placement of clients in the community.