North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 143. State Departments, Institutions, and Commissions § 143-119. Payments

(a) The cost of care when fixed by the Secretary shall be paid by the person admitted or by the person legally responsible for payment. The payment of the cost of care constitutes a valid expenditure of funds held by a fiduciary of a person admitted, including Clerks of Court, and a receipt for payment of such costs shall be a valid voucher in the fiduciary's settlement of his accounts of his trust.

(b) Immediately upon the determination of the cost, the person admitted or the person legally responsible for paying the cost shall be notified of the amount due and a statement shall be rendered on a monthly basis.

(c) If the person admitted or the person legally responsible for paying the cost is not able to pay the total cost due on a monthly basis, the Secretary may arrange for the payment of a portion of the cost monthly and extend the payments until the costs are paid or may arrange for any other method of payment.

(d) The institutions shall maintain a list of all unpaid accounts for audit by the State auditors.

(e) The Secretary may discharge from the institution persons admitted who have been found able to pay but who refuse to pay costs fixed against them, unless the person was committed by an order of a court of competent jurisdiction.