Detailed Answer: What a medical lien or Letter of Protection (LOP) means and how to find providers in Michigan

If you were injured in Michigan and cannot pay up front for medical care, some doctors, hospitals, chiropractors, physical therapists, and diagnostic facilities will agree to treat you on a lien basis or under a Letter of Protection (sometimes called an LOP). Under a lien/LOP arrangement, the provider allows you to receive treatment now and promises to seek payment from any future settlement or judgment in your personal injury case. These arrangements are private contracts between you and the provider; Michigan law generally governs how liens against settlement proceeds are enforced, but many medical liens rely on contract and equitable lien principles rather than a single uniform statute. For Michigan statutes and full text of laws, see the Michigan Legislature website: https://www.legislature.mi.gov/.

Step-by-step: How to find and secure lien-based treatment

1. Start with an attorney if possible.

   Personal injury attorneys in Michigan routinely work with medical providers who accept liens. Even if you cannot afford a lawyer, many personal-injury firms offer free initial consultations and may provide referrals to providers that accept LOPs or liens.

2. Call local providers and ask specific questions.

   Search for clinics that advertise “treatment on lien” or “accept letters of protection.” Ask whether they:

   • Accept Letters of Protection or medical liens from personal-injury claimants;
   • Require an attorney retainer or official case documentation;
   • Require periodic invoices while you are being treated;
   • Will place a lien against settlement proceeds or require a signed LOP contract.
3. Consider provider types more likely to accept liens.

   Chiropractors, physical therapists, pain management clinics, and some orthopedic or urgent-care providers are more likely to accept liens. Emergency departments and large hospitals sometimes accept them but often insist on partial or full payment up front or require other arrangements because of higher facility costs.

4. Ask about documentation they need.

   Most providers will want:

   • A copy of a police or incident report, if available;
   • Contact information for the at-fault party and their insurer (if known);
   • Medical records and notes documenting the injury;
   • An attorney’s Letter of Protection if you have counsel; some clinics will accept your signature alone but many prefer an attorney’s promise to protect payment from settlement.
5. Get any lien agreement in writing before treatment.

   The written agreement should state how much of any recovery the provider will claim, whether they will accept discounted amounts, and how bills will be handled if you receive no recovery. Do not rely on verbal promises.

6. Understand billing and collections risks.

   If your case does not produce a recovery, some providers may pursue collection against you. Review the lien/LOP language carefully to see if it makes you personally responsible for unpaid balances.

7. Coordinate communication between your provider and your attorney.

   If you retain counsel, give the provider your attorney’s contact details and ask the attorney to send an LOP. That usually makes providers more willing to accept care on lien.

How lien enforcement commonly works in Michigan

Medical providers usually assert payment by contract (the LOP or lien agreement) and, where appropriate, by seeking an equitable lien on settlement proceeds. While Michigan has statutes addressing liens and priorities in many contexts, providers often rely on written agreements and court enforcement if necessary. If you want to review Michigan statutes on liens in general, start at the Michigan Legislature: https://www.legislature.mi.gov/ and search for “lien” or “charging lien.” For practical legal help in Michigan, see Michigan Legal Help: https://michiganlegalhelp.org/ and the State Bar of Michigan: https://www.michbar.org/.

Practical example (hypothetical)

Jane is injured in a car crash in Detroit and needs physical therapy but has no health insurance. She meets with a personal injury attorney for a free consultation. The attorney refers her to a PT clinic that accepts Letters of Protection. Jane signs a written LOP the clinic provides; the clinic documents her injuries, begins treatment, and bills the attorney periodically. If Jane later settles her suit for $20,000, the clinic files a claim against the settlement under the signed LOP and is paid according to the agreement and any negotiated reduction. If Jane recovers nothing, the agreement specifies whether she is personally responsible for the unpaid balance.

When to seek immediate legal help

If a provider threatens collections despite a signed LOP, or if multiple providers assert competing liens on a limited settlement, contact a Michigan personal injury lawyer promptly. A lawyer can help prioritize claims, negotiate reductions, or, when necessary, ask the court to resolve competing claims.

Helpful Hints

• Always get a lien or Letter of Protection in writing before you accept treatment.
• Ask whether the provider will accept a reduced amount in full satisfaction of the lien; many will negotiate after you settle.
• Keep copies of all medical records, bills, and communications with providers and insurers.
• Tell every treated provider about other providers treating you for the same injury; multiple liens can reduce your net recovery.
• If you can, retain a Michigan personal injury attorney early. An attorney’s LOP can increase the number of providers willing to treat you on lien.
• Check community health centers and legal aid clinics for low-cost or sliding-scale care if providers will not accept liens.
• Understand that some providers (especially hospitals) may require partial payment or place an internal hold on your records until billing issues are resolved; ask about these policies up front.
• Confirm whether the provider will bill your health insurer if you have coverage; some providers will submit to both the insurer and the LOP to maximize payment sources.
• If you sign an agreement that makes you personally liable if there is no recovery, consider whether you can realistically afford that risk.