When an injured person is taken to the emergency room, they may end up with a bill over $10,000.00.  Some of this is the result of the hospital engaging in cya.  They will err on the side of doing an extra test, rather than risk missing something that may need immediate attention.  Typically, the hospital may not know right away whether the injured person has medical insurance.  As a precaution, the hospital will record a lien with the County Recorder’s office.  If the injured person has medical insurance, then the agreement between the hospital and the insurance company typically results in the injured person no longer being liable for the balance of the bill not paid by the medical insurance, (save for a deductible).  However, the lien remains against the injured person’s recovery from the person who was at fault.  That lien amount may be subject to compromise. Other health care providers can record liens in addition to hospitals, but hospital liens have priority, which results in few doctors bothering to record liens behind a hospital lien.