GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

1985 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 367

HOUSE BILL 121

 

AN ACT TO PROHIBIT CHIROPRACTORS FROM COLLECTING FEES IN CONNECTION WITH FREE SERVICES.

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

 

Section 1.  G.S. 90-154(b) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:

"(16)   Violating the provisions of G.S. 90-154.1."

Sec. 2. G.S. 90-154(b)(15) is amended by changing the period at the end to a semicolon.

Sec. 3.  Article 8 of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

"§ 90-154.1.  Collection of certain fees prohibited. - (a) Any patient or any other person responsible for payment has the right to refuse to pay, cancel payment, or be reimbursed for payment for any service, examination, or treatment which is performed as a result of and within 72 hours of responding to any advertisement for a free service, free examination, or free treatment, and is referred to in the advertisement.

(b)       In any written advertisement for a free service, free examination, or free treatment by a chiropractor, the language of subsection (a) shall appear in capital letters clearly distinguishable from the rest of the text, any further treatment shall be agreed upon in writing and signed by both parties.

(c)       In any broadcast advertisement for a free service, free examination, or free treatment by a chiropractor, the language of subsection (a), or an accurate summary of that subsection, shall be read at the conclusion of the advertisement."

Sec. 4.  This act shall become effective July 1, 1985.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 10th day of June, 1985.