582.1 Nature of lien.

Every association, corporation, county, or other institution, including a municipal corporation, maintaining a hospital in the state, which shall furnish medical or other service to any patient injured by reason of an accident not covered by the workers' compensation Act, shall, if such injured party shall assert or maintain a claim against another for damages on account of such injuries, have a lien upon that part going or belonging to such patient of any recovery or sum had or collected or to be collected by such patient, or by the patient's heirs or personal representatives in the case of the patient's death, whether by judgment or by settlement or compromise to the amount of the reasonable and necessary charges of such hospital for the treatment, care, and maintenance of such patient in such hospital up to the date of payment of such damages; provided, however, that this lien shall not in any way prejudice or interfere with any lien or contract which may be made by such patient or the patient's heirs or personal representatives with any attorney or attorneys for handling the claim on behalf of such patient, the patient's heirs, or personal representatives; provided, further, that the lien herein set forth shall not be applied or considered valid against anyone coming under the workers' compensation Act in this state.

582.2 Written notice of lien.

No such lien shall be effective, however, unless a written notice containing the name and address of the injured person, the date of the accident, the name and location of the hospital, and the name of the person or persons, firm or firms, corporation or corporations alleged to be liable to the injured party for the injuries received, shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the district court of the county in which such hospital is located, prior to the payment of any moneys to such injured person, the person's attorneys or legal representative, as compensation for such injuries; nor unless the hospital shall also mail, postage prepaid, a copy of such notice with a statement of the date of filing thereof to the person or persons, firm or firms, corporation or corporations alleged to be liable to the injured party for the injuries sustained prior to the payment of any moneys to such injured person, the person's attorneys or legal representative, as compensation for such injuries. Such hospital shall mail a copy of such notice to any insurance carrier which has insured such person, firm or corporation against such liability, if the name and address shall be known.

582.3 Duration and enforcement of lien.

Any person or persons, firm or firms, corporation or corporations, including an insurance carrier, making any payment to such patient or to the patient's attorneys or heirs or legal representatives as compensation for the injury sustained, after the filing and mailing of such notice without paying to such hospital the amount of its lien or so much thereof as can be satisfied out of the moneys due under any final judgment or compromise or settlement agreement, after paying the amount of any prior liens, shall, for a period of one year from the date of payment to such patient or the patient's heirs, attorneys, or legal representatives, as aforesaid, be and remain liable to such hospital for the amount which such hospital was entitled to receive as aforesaid; any such association, corporation, or other institution maintaining such hospital may, within such period, enforce its lien by a suit at law against such person or persons, firm or firms, corporation or corporations making any such payment.

582.4 Lien book--fees.

Every clerk of the district court shall, at the expense of the county, provide a suitable well-bound book to be called the hospital lien docket in which, upon the filing of any lien claim under the provisions of this chapter, the clerk shall enter the name of the injured person, the date of the accident, and the name of the hospital or other institution making the claim. The clerk shall make a proper index of the same in the name of the injured person and the clerk shall collect a fee of ten dollars for filing each lien claim.