(a) A county health care provider participation program authorizes a county to collect a mandatory payment from each institutional health care provider located in the county to be deposited in a local provider participation fund established by the county. Money in the fund may be used by the county to fund certain intergovernmental transfers and indigent care programs as provided by this chapter.
(b) The commissioners court of a county may adopt an order authorizing the county to participate in the program, subject to the limitations provided by this chapter.