Opinion Number

Dear Mr. Castille:

You have requested the opinion of this office on the interpretation of R.S. 46:6 as amended by Act 893 of 1991 which requires charity hospitals to charge, "a minimum fee of three dollars and fifty cents per service unit to every patient who is rendered services or treatment at that hospital, except that such fee may be waived for a patient who is totally without funds . . ."

You have indicated that LHCA and the Department of Health and Hospitals participated in the legislative process which resulted in the passage of this act and that the LHCA believes that it was the…