22-22-26.2. Coordination of payment of cost of forensic medical examinations--Notice to victim--Victim not required to participate.

Each physician, hospital, and clinic conducting an examination under § 22-22-26 shall coordinate with the county to establish a payment process by which the county shall pay for the cost of any forensic medical examination performed under § 22-22-26 and to notify any victim of rape or sexual offense of the availability of a forensic medical examination at no cost to the victim. A victim of rape or sexual offense is not required to participate in the criminal justice system or to cooperate with law enforcement to be provided with a forensic medical examination without cost to the victim.

The amount paid to a physician, hospital, or clinic for a forensic medical exam performed under § 22-22-26 may not exceed the actual cost of the forensic medical examination or an amount established by the secretary of the Department of Social Services, whichever is less. The amount established by the secretary under this section shall be based on Medicaid payment methodology. A physician, hospital, or clinic may not maintain a claim against a county for any amount that exceeds the usual ordinary and reasonable charge for a forensic medical examination, including an amount that is less than the actual cost of the forensic medical examination. If the physician, hospital, or clinic performs forensic medical examinations, or any portion of a forensic medical examination, to persons who are medically indigent residing in the county in which the physician, hospital, or clinic is located at a cost less than the amount provided for in this section, the physician, hospital, or clinic shall furnish the forensic medical examination, or any applicable portion of the forensic medical examination, at the lower cost.

Source: SL 2018, ch 131, § 3.