§1–1001.

    (a)    A county or municipality may establish a hospital or other facility for the care of the sick by:

        (1)    building or contracting for the use of a facility; or

        (2)    joining with another county or municipality to establish a joint facility.

    (b)    A county or municipality may recover the expenses incurred by a hospital or another facility in caring for a patient who is not indigent:

        (1)    from the patient, within 3 years after the patient is discharged from the facility; or

        (2)    from the estate of the patient, if the patient dies in the facility.