§45-2-171.21. Baldwin County Indigent Care Board authorized.

At the determination of the county commission, there may be hereby established the Baldwin County Indigent Care Board, hereinafter referred to as "the board," whose composition and duties shall be as follows:

(1) The county commission may appoint a Baldwin County Indigent Care Board which shall consist of four members who are duly qualified electors of Baldwin County, but no member of such board shall be employed by any hospital. Of the members of the board first appointed under the provisions of this section, one shall be appointed for a term of one year, one shall be appointed for a term of two years, one shall be appointed for a term of three years and one shall be appointed for a term of four years. Thereafter, their successors shall be appointed for terms of four years and may be appointed to succeed themselves as members of the board. The county commission shall appoint all members of the board. In the event the county commission does not appoint the subject board, the duties and responsibilities of the board provided for herein shall be carried out by the county commission. Members of the board shall serve without compensation, except that they may be reimbursed for all necessary and proper expenses incurred in performance of their duties.

(2) The board shall meet monthly at a public place within Baldwin County to certify accounts presented to the board by hospitals of medical care who are providing medical care to medically indigent citizens of Baldwin County and to make recommendations for payments from the board's account or accounts to such hospitals of medical care. The board shall be empowered to employ appropriate personnel with county commission approval for the purpose of maintaining the board's records and accounts or the county commission may provide such personnel for the purpose of maintaining the board's records and accounts, and the board shall be empowered to expend revenues in its account or accounts to carry out the several provisions of this subpart. The board shall prescribe reimbursement to be paid to hospitals of medical care to the medically indigent persons provided for in this subpart, at an amount equal to the reasonable cost of said services rendered by the hospitals. It shall be the responsibility of the hospitals of medical care to verify and furnish appropriate materials for the board to certify the accounts presented. Provided, however, notwithstanding any part herein to the contrary, hospitals of medical care shall be reimbursed on an approved per diem cost reimbursement rate approved by the Baldwin County Commission annually. Indigent care reimbursement shall not include amounts for contractual adjustments, discounts, or amounts required to be provided under Hill-Burton, educational expenses or other funds supporting indigent care for any other source. A hospital shall be reimbursed for providing hospital care to a medically indigent person at a rate approved to such hospitals by the Baldwin County Commission. Reimbursements by the board shall not include any payment for physician services. The board shall require a copy of a certified audit without qualifications of any hospital applying for reimbursement by the board and the cost of such audit shall be the burden of the hospitals. The board with county commission approval, shall annually establish maximum cost reimbursements to hospitals in and out of county for indigent care.

(Act 84-733, p. 70, §2.)