Section 13. The department may, if expedient, remove any person infected with a disease dangerous to the public health, who is maintained or liable to be maintained by the commonwealth, to the Tewksbury hospital, or may provide such place of reception for such person as is judged best for his accommodation and the safety of the public, which place shall be subject to the regulations of said department, and it shall have the same authority to remove such person thereto as is conferred upon boards of health by section ninety-five of chapter one hundred and eleven, and any expenses incurred in carrying out this section may be paid from the annual appropriation to the department of transitional assistance for expenses in connection with smallpox and other diseases dangerous to the public health.