Iowa Code Title IX. Local Government [Chs. 331-420] § 347.16. Treatment in county hospital--terms

1. Any resident of a county in this state who is sick or injured shall be entitled to care and treatment in any public hospital established and maintained by that county under this chapter, so long as that person observes the rules of conduct prescribed by the board of hospital trustees. Each patient admitted under this subsection, or the person legally liable for that patient's support, shall pay to the board of hospital trustees reasonable compensation for that patient's care and treatment according to the rules established by the board, unless subsection 2 is applicable.

2. Free care and treatment shall be furnished in a county public hospital to any sick or injured person who fulfills the residency requirements under section 47.4, subsection 1, paragraph “d”, Code 1993, in the county maintaining the hospital, and who is indigent. The board of hospital trustees shall determine whether a person is indigent and entitled to free care under this subsection, or may delegate that determination to the general assistance director or the office of the department of health and human services in that county, subject to guidelines the board may adopt in conformity with applicable statutes.

3. Care and treatment may be furnished in a county public hospital to any sick or injured person who has residence outside the county which maintains the hospital, subject to such policies and rules as the board of hospital trustees may adopt. If care and treatment is provided under this subsection to a person who is indigent, the person's county of residence, as defined in section 331.394, shall pay to the board of hospital trustees the fair and reasonable cost of the care and treatment provided by the county public hospital unless the cost of the indigent person's care and treatment is otherwise provided for. If care and treatment is provided to an indigent person under this subsection, the county public hospital furnishing the care and treatment shall immediately notify, by regular mail, the auditor of the county of residence of the indigent person of the provision of care and treatment to the indigent person including care and treatment provided by a county through the county's mental health and disability services system implemented under chapter 331.