N.J. Stat. Ann. § 44:5-19.1

The board of chosen freeholders of any county, which furnishes medical care and hospitalization to resident indigent patients who cannot be maintained by private means, in a hospital or hospitals supported by private charity, on a per diem per patient basis, shall have a lien against the property of any person receiving such service in an amount equal to the cost to the county of the maintenance of such person in such hospital, which lien shall have priority over all unrecorded encumbrances.