N.Y. General Municipal Law § 126-b: Public hospitals for chronically ill

* § 126-b. Public hospitals for chronically ill. 1. (a) The governing

board of a county or city may by resolution determine that there shall

be in such county or city a public hospital for the care and treatment

of the chronically ill and make provision for the establishment and

operation of such a hospital by such county or city in the same manner

and in accordance with the same procedure as is prescribed by the

provisions of this article for the establishment and operation of public

general hospitals; and the provisions of sections one hundred

twenty-six, one hundred twenty-seven, one hundred twenty-eight, one

hundred twenty-nine, one hundred thirty-one, one hundred thirty-two, one

hundred thirty-three, one hundred thirty-five-a and one hundred

thirty-five-b shall apply thereto except to the extent they shall be

inconsistent therewith.

(b) Provided the state board of social welfare shall approve, such

county or city may use for the operation of such a hospital a building

or buildings formerly used as a tuberculosis hospital or sanatorium or a

part thereof.

2. (a) If such a hospital is established, provision shall be made for

the admission of patients thereto, upon the authorization of the

commissioner of public welfare of the county or city, as the case may

be, who are receiving public assistance or care from such commissioner

or who may be determined to be needy by such commissioner in accordance

with the standards and criteria of his public welfare district pursuant

to the provisions of the social welfare law, and for payment by such

commissioner for the cost of care provided such patients.

(b) When a patient who is not the concern of the public welfare

commissioner is admitted, the superintendent shall cause to be made such

inquiry as he may deem necessary relative to the ability of such

patient, and of the relatives legally liable for his support, to pay for

his care and treatment. If he finds that such patient, or said

relatives, are able to pay for his care and treatment in whole or in

part, an order shall be made by the superintendent directing such

patient, or said relatives, to pay to the treasurer of such hospital for

the support of such patient a specified sum per week, in proportion to

their financial ability, but such sum shall not exceed the actual cost

of maintenance. The superintendent shall have the same power and

authority to collect such sums from the patient, or his relatives

legally liable for his support, as is possessed by a public welfare

official in like circumstances. If the superintendent find that such

patient, or his said relatives, are not able to pay, either in whole or

in part, for his care and treatment in such hospital, the unpaid cost of

his maintenance shall become a charge upon the county or city by which

the hospital is maintained, but may be subject to chargeback to another

public welfare district pursuant to the provisions of the social welfare

law. The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to any person

admitted for care and treatment of tuberculosis, as defined and provided

for in the public health law.

(c) No employee of such hospital shall accept from any patient thereof

any fee, payment or gratuity whatsoever for his service.

3. (a) Whenever a county or city has, prior to the enactment of this

section, established a public hospital for the care of the chronically

sick, the governing body of such county or city may by resolution

provide that such hospital shall thereafter be controlled and maintained

in accordance with the provisions of this section and article.

(b) Any public hospital for the care of the chronically sick which may

hereafter be established by the governing board of any county or city

shall be subject to the provisions of this section and article.

* NB There are 2 § 126-b's