Baylor University Medical Center v. Borders

ROBERTSON, Justice.

This appeal involves the construction of Tex.Rev.Civ.Stat.Ann. art. 5506a (Vernon 1975), commonly referred to as the Hospital Lien Statute. Appellant Baylor Medical University Center filed a hospital lien in accordance with the statute against the account of Sabrina Borders, a minor. The trial court held that Baylor’s claim was barred by limitations. We hold, however, that the statute establishes a separate cause of action independent of the patient's obligation to pay the bill and that the hospital’s cause of action accrues only when judgment or settlement proceeds are…