Sec. 23. (a) Whenever a superintendent receives an application for the admission of a patient with tuberculosis from the county executive of any other county, the superintendent shall notify the person to appear at the hospital if there is:
(1) a vacancy; and
(2) no pending application from a resident of the county in which the hospital is located.
(b) If the superintendent is satisfied that the patient has tuberculosis, the superintendent shall admit the patient to the hospital. The patient is a charge against the county executive of the county sending the patient, at a rate to be fixed by the board of managers. The rate may not exceed the per capita cost of maintenance, including a reasonable allowance for interest on the costs of the hospital. The bill shall, when verified, be audited and paid by the auditor of that county.
(c) The county executive shall investigate the circumstances of the patient and of the patient's relatives legally liable for the patient's support, and has the same authority as the township trustee as administrator of township assistance to collect the cost of the patient's maintenance according to the patient's relatives' financial ability.