Hospital fees: Unlawful collection from employee.
1. For the purpose of this section:
(a) “Distance and facilities for the comfort and conveyance of any patient” shall be construed to mean the nearest hospital and the most comfortable means of conveyance at hand or that can be procured in a reasonable time.
(b) “Town or place” shall be construed to mean any town, headquarters or place, at which town, headquarters or place, and tributary places, sufficient hospital fees are collected to maintain a hospital in keeping with the hospital fees collected.
2. It is unlawful for any person or persons, contractor or contractors, firm, company, corporation or association, or the managing agent of any person or persons, contractor or contractors, firm, company, corporation or association, to collect, demand, force, compel or require, either monthly, annually or for any other period of time, any sum of money for hospital fees from any person or laborer at any place in this state where no convenient, comfortable and well-equipped hospital is maintained at some town or place for the accommodation, relief and treatment of persons in his or their employ, and from whom hospital fees are collected; provided:
(a) That any person or persons, contractor or contractors, firm, company, corporation or association, or the managing agent of the same, may care for or cause to be cared for any person in his or their employ, from whom hospital fees are collected, at any private or public hospital, sanitarium or other convenient and comfortable place, without expense to the person or patient from whom hospital fees are collected; and
(b) That the distance and facilities for the comfort and conveyance of any patient come within the intent and meaning of subsection 1.
3. If at the nearest hospital the proper medical treatment cannot be secured, then it shall not be unlawful to take any person or patient a greater distance or to another hospital.
4. Any person or persons violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Last modified: February 25, 2006