CHAPTER 698

An Act to authorize the Department of Health to impose certain charges
and collect the same for services rendered at the several tuberculosis
sanatoria; to provide for the disposition of such collections; and to
require the Department to report thereon. 'S 35]

Approved April 8, 1954
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. § 1. The Department of Health after it has admitted persons to tuber-
culosis sanatoria under its control shall determine whether or not such
patients or those legally liable for their support are able to pay in whole or
in part for their care. In making such determination the Department
shall consider whether such patient or other person can make such payment
and meet his other financial responsibilities for the support of himself and
his family. Such determination may be made from time to time according
to the circumstances of each case. If the Department determines that a
patient or person legally liable for his support can pay for the cost of his
care or a portion thereof, it shall collect for the cost of such care, in whole
or in part, at the rate of two dollars and fifty cents per day for each day
spent in the sanatorium or the actual average per diem cost of care, which-
ever is less; provided that if any patient in any such sanitorium or the per-
son legally liable for his support is financially able to and desires to pay the
entire cost of his care and treatment thereat, the Department is hereby
authorized to determine the amount to be so paid and to accept such pay-
ment without regard to the rate of payment hereinabove set. Collections
shall be paid into the State treasury to the credit of the sanitorium to be
by it expended as provided by law in providing care for patients.

§ 2. At least sixty days prior to the regular session of the General
Assembly beginning in January, nineteen hundred fifty-six, the Department
shall report to the Governor and the General Assembly as to its collections
under the provisions of this act, stating the amount of such collections, the
number of patients, and the methods used in determining ability to pay,
with any recommendations as to needed further legislation.