Rape Victims Assistance Program

The Rape Victims Assistance Program reimburses a North Carolina medical provider up to $1,000 for gathering evidence for a rape kit. Hospital staff will submit a rape claim to the Rape Assistance Program to pay the hospital bill for the evidence collection.

What to do
In North Carolina, rape is a felony offense. Reporting the crime to law enforcement is the first step in apprehending and convicting an assailant. If the rape in not reported, the attacker is likely to hurt someone else.

Telling a police officer about the rape does not mean the victim has to prosecute. A victim can tell law enforcement everything he or she remembers about the attacker and nothing about himself or herself, if the individual so chooses. If the victim wants to prosecute, the authorities will pursue the crime to the fullest extent of the law.

A victim should:

• Report the crime as soon as possible after it occurs.
• Remember as much as possible about the attacker and what took place.
• Do not change clothes, bathe or douche. Go straight to a hospital emergency room so evidence may be obtained. (You may wish to have your private physician meet you at the hospital's emergency room). Take a change of clothes to the hospital. The clothes you were wearing at the time of the attack will become part of the evidence collected.
• Call a family member, a friend, your clergyman, or a volunteer from a local rape crisis center for moral support. These people can offer support and assistance so that you do not have to face this situation alone.

Insurance
The Rape Victims Assistance Program will compensate victims for expenses not paid by a collateral source such as Medicaid, public or private insurance plans or other victim benefit sources.

Payment requests are processed and paid depending on whether funds are available and if reports of the assault are verified in writing by the appropriate law enforcement agency.

Reasons for denial:

• If the assault is not reported to law enforcement within FIVE DAYS of the incident or without good cause, the claim will be denied.
• If medical treatment was not received within 90 days of the incident, the claim will be denied.
• If a bill is not submitted within six months of the date service rendered, the claim will be denied.
• If alleged victim makes a false report to law enforcement, the claim will be denied.
• If other insurance coverage pays the bill, the claim will be denied.

How medical providers can assist:

• Obtain all insurance information. Compensation is reduced or denied if the medical expense can be recouped by any collateral source such as Medicaid, public or private insurance plan or other victim benefit source.
• Obtain the name of the investigating law enforcement agency where the report was completed and submit with bill.
• Provide itemized statement.
• Ensure timely filing.

Rape Victim Assistance Provider Billing Form

Rape Victim Assistance Provider Information Form

Questions
Call the Rape Victim Assistance Program at 1-800-826-6200 (within NC) or (919) 733-7974.
N.C. General Statute 14-27.2 on First Degree Rape.

Or, write: Division of Victims Compensation Services
4703 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-4703
fax (919) 715-4209

« this page last modified 08/20/08 »