PAYMENT FOR TREATMENT; PROCEDURES.

(a) A person who resides in the district is entitled to receive necessary medical and hospital care regardless of whether the person has the ability to pay for the care. The person may apply to receive this care without cost.

(b) The board or the district administrator shall employ a person to investigate the ability of the patient and any relative liable for the patient's support to pay for the medical and hospital care received by the patient.

(c) If the investigator finds that neither the patient nor those relatives can pay all or part of the patient's care, the expense of this care becomes a charge against the district.

(d) If the patient or those relatives can pay for all or part of the costs of the patient's care, the board shall order the patient or relative to pay to the district treasurer each week an amount specified in the order. The amount must be proportionate to the person's ability to pay.

(e) The district may collect the amount from the patient's estate, or from any relative liable for the patient's support, in the manner provided by law for the collection of expenses of the last illness of a deceased person.

(f) If there is a dispute as to the ability to pay, or doubt in the mind of the investigator, the board shall hold a hearing and, after calling witnesses, shall:

(1) determine the question; and

(2) make the proper order based on the board's findings.

(g) A party to the hearing who is not satisfied with the result of the order may appeal to the district court. The appeal is de novo, as that term is used in an appeal from a justice court to a county court.