CHAPTER 222
AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 42, TITLE 9, DELAWARE CODE, RELATING TO INDIGENT SICK.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Delaware:
Section 1. Chapter 42, Title 9, Delaware Code entitled "Indigent Sick," is hereby repealed.
Section 2. A new Chapter 42, Title 9, Delaware Code, entitled "Indigent Sick," is hereby enacted as follows:
CHAPTER 42. INDIGENT SICK
Sec.
4201. Appropriation for relief of indigent sick 4202. Hospitals caring for indigent sick
4203. Records
4204. Audit of records by County Comptroller 4205. Payment of Levy Court
§ 4201. Appropriation for relief of indigent sick
(a) The Levy Court of Kent County shall annually appropriate for the relief of the indigent sick, resident in such County, the sum of $25,000. In fixing the rate of taxation the Levy Court shall annually provide for the sum of $25,000.
(b) The Levy Court may in its discretion, annually appropriate such additional funds as it considers necessary for the relief of the indigent sick, resident in Kent County.
§ 4202. Hospitals caring for indigent sick
Any and all hospitals serving Kent County and which are not principally dependent for their maintenance and operation upon State or Federal appropriation are authorized to accept, treat and care for any indigent sick resident in the County and
to furnish them with proper medical or surgical care and attention, to be paid therefor in the manner provided in this chapter.
§ 4203. Records
Every hospital qualifying under Section 4202 of this title, which furnishes medical or surgical care and attention to any indigent sick residing in Kent County shall keep a record thereof in the manner and form prescribed by the Comptroller of Kent County, showing the number of such indigent sick receiving medical or surgical care and attention, the name and residence of each such person, the dates the person was admitted to and discharged from the hospital and an itemized list showing all expenses incurred by the hospital for medical or surgical care and attention furnished such persons.
§ 4204. Audit of records by County Comptroller
Every hospital which desires to be paid by the Levy Court for medical or surgical care and attention for any indigent sick resident in Kent County shall on or before the fifteenth day of each month transmit to the Comptroller of Kent County a duly verified copy of the record required by Section 4203 of this title, for the preceding month, and the Comptroller upon receipt thereof shall forthwith investigate the facts contained therein, and if he deems it proper or necessary in the making of his investigation, he may make an examination of the hospital's books, papers and account appertaining thereto. If, after such investigation, the Comptroller is satisfied that the facts contained in the submitted record are true and correct, he shall approve the payment by the Levy Court to the hospital of the amount shown to be due by the record ; otherwise, the Comptroller shall disapprove the same. Upon such approval or disapproval the Comptroller shall forthwith transmit the record, with his approval or disapproval endorsed thereon, to the Levy Court.
§ 4205. Payment of Levy Court
The Levy Court shall pay to each hospital qualified under Section 4202 of this title, such amount shown to be due to it by its verified record as shall be approved by the Comptroller, at such rate per day as shall be determined by the Levy Court
in its discretion for each person receiving such medical or surgical care and attention. Payments under this section shall be made out to the fund appropriated under Section 4201 of this title. No money shall be paid to any hospital for any month until the amount due to all the hospitals in the County for the preceding month has been fully determined and paid.
Approved January 2, 1968.