36-183.01. County hospital under board of health or hospital board; powers and duties

A. In any county that maintains a hospital, the board of supervisors may delegate to a county board of health the responsibility to manage and operate the hospital or if the county has a population of more than one million persons according to the most recent United States decennial census, the board of supervisors or in the case of a county with a special health care district that is subject to section 48-5541.01, the board of directors of the district, by majority vote, may appoint a hospital board to perform that function. If the board of supervisors decides to appoint a hospital board, the board shall be composed of the following members:

1. A member of the board of supervisors who is chosen by the board of supervisors. This member shall act as board chairman.

2. The director of the county hospital, who is a nonvoting member.

3. A physician licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 13 or 17. This member shall not be a county employee.

4. A professional nurse licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 15. This member shall not be a county employee.

5. Each current president or chairman of the hospital's medical staff, who is a nonvoting member.

6. Five public members selected by the board of supervisors for their interest in health care. The public members shall be residents of different supervisorial districts.

7. Two additional public members selected by the board of supervisors, one who has financial expertise and one who has legal expertise.

B. The member of the hospital board from the board of supervisors shall serve at the pleasure of the board of supervisors but no longer than four years. Other members of the hospital board shall serve staggered four-year terms, but no member may serve more than two full terms. A vacancy occurring on the hospital board shall be filled by the board of supervisors appointing another qualified person to serve the remainder of the term.

C. The county board of health or the appointed hospital board may:

1. With the consent of the board of supervisors and at salaries fixed by the supervisors, appoint a hospital director, physicians and employees to perform the work of the hospital.

2. Advise the director of the hospital and request from that person the information it deems necessary.

3. Prescribe standards of medical care to be furnished by the hospital and make reasonable rules for the operation and maintenance of the hospital.

4. With the consent of the board of supervisors, prescribe the charges to be made by the hospital to persons able to pay in whole or in part for services furnished by the hospital.

5. Prepare and submit to the board of supervisors an annual statement of the financial affairs of the hospital and an estimate of the amounts required to meet the expenses of the hospital for the next fiscal year. The estimate shall include an estimate of the amount of money required for each item of expenditure by the hospital.

6. Make long-range plans for the hospital and the care of the indigent sick of the county.

7. Advise the board of supervisors on all matters relating to the county hospital and medical services furnished by the county.