Do Georgia liens for medical care extend to physicians and nursing homes too?


The statutory lien for medical care in Georgia is not limited to hospitals alone. The same part of the Code that creates the hospital lien also reaches certain other providers, so a nursing home and some physician and practice providers can assert a lien on an injured person’s recovery for the reasonable charges of treating the injuries.

A lien scheme that covers more than hospitals

Georgia’s medical-lien provisions appear in the part of the Code dealing with hospitals and nursing homes, beginning at O.C.G.A. § 44-14-470. The lien attaches to the cause of action and the resulting recovery for the reasonable charges of caring for the injuries tied to the claim. By its terms and through later amendments, the scheme extends beyond hospitals to include nursing homes and certain practice providers that furnish care for the injuries, allowing those providers to assert a lien in much the same way a hospital can.

This broader reach means an injured person may face more than one lien from more than one type of provider, each claiming a share of the recovery for the care it gave.

Same framework, same conditions

A provider entitled to a lien under this scheme generally must satisfy the same perfection requirements that apply to hospitals. The right to lien comes with the obligation to follow the statute’s filing, timing, and notice rules.

Points to keep in mind:

  • The lien framework covers hospitals and nursing homes, and extends to certain physician and practice providers.
  • Each provider’s lien reaches the reasonable charges for treating the injuries connected to the claim.
  • A provider must perfect its lien through the required verified statement, filing location, and advance written notice.
  • Multiple liens from different providers can apply to a single recovery.

Because each lien must be perfected on its own, a provider that does not follow the statutory steps may not be able to enforce its lien against the settlement.

The bottom line

Georgia’s medical-care lien rights are not confined to hospitals; nursing homes and certain physician and practice providers can also assert a lien on an injured person’s recovery for the reasonable charges of injury-related care. Each such lien follows the same perfection requirements, and a single recovery can be subject to liens from more than one provider.


This article is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not legal advice. It does not create an attorney-client relationship, and Georgia law may change. For advice about a specific situation, consult a licensed Georgia personal injury attorney.

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