Every county hospital established and maintained under the provisions of this chapter shall be kept and maintained as a public, county hospital. It may charge a reasonable price for the use of such hospital and its facilities to such persons being residents of the county as may be determined by the board of county commissioners to be county charges without means and in that event the cost of such services at such hospital shall be paid to the hospital fund from the general fund on behalf of such county charges. It may also collect accounts which are due and it may employ collection agencies or attorneys on a contingent fee basis or may assign the claim for collection.

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Source: SL 1919, ch 282; SL 1929, ch 210, § 10; SDC 1939, § 27.1906; SL 1949, ch 108, § 1; SL 1957, ch 120; SL 1965, ch 129; SL 1983, ch 254; SL 1985, ch 77, § 17.