Opinion ID: 1637371
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: south dakota's statutory scheme for reimbursement of indigent's medical expenses.

Text: The South Dakota legislature created a comprehensive scheme for reimbursement for indigent's medical expenses. That statutory scheme has been interpreted in decisions of this court and in South Dakota Attorney General opinions. SDCL ch. 28-13 et seq., deals with county poor relief. Every county shall relieve and support all poor and indigent persons who have established residency therein, ... SDCL 28-13-1. The provisions of this chapter reflect the legislature's intent to impose a duty upon the county to relieve and support all of its poor and indigent residents by providing them with hospitalization, medical care, and treatment. Jerauld County v. St. Paul-Mercury Indem. Co., 76 S.D. 1, 6, 71 N.W.2d 571, 574 (1955). It is well settled in South Dakota that, the obligation to support poor persons results not from the common law, but from statutes providing for their care from public funds. Sioux Valley Hospital Association v. Davison County, 298 N.W.2d 85, 86 (S.D.1980); State of North Dakota v. Perkins County, 69 S.D. 270, 273-274, 9 N.W.2d 500, 501 (1943); Hamlin County v. Clark County, 1 S.D. 131, 45 N.W. 329, 331 (1890). No liability exists for reimbursement for relief furnished unless there is a statute authorizing the reimbursement or the relief is furnished pursuant to the request of someone having authority to act. Davison County, supra, quoting Perkins County, 69 S.D. at 274, 9 N.W.2d at 501. Accordingly, any decision by this court to impose liability upon Pennington or Moody County (Counties), must be based upon the applicable statutes.