For the purposes of this article, unless otherwise indicated, the following terms shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:
- (1) HOSPITAL. Any state, county, municipal or other public or private hospital licensed under the laws of this state, except a hospital, whether public or private, which is operated primarily for the care and treatment of tuberculosis, mental disorders or any other such chronic disease or illness.
- (2) INDIGENT. Any person who has resided continuously in this state for not less than one year and who is acutely ill or injured and can be helped markedly by treatment in a hospital, but who is unable to pay the cost of such hospitalization from his own resources or from the resources of those upon whom he is legally dependent.
- (3) PHYSICIAN. Any person who has been duly licensed to practice medicine in the State of Alabama.
- (4) PARTICIPATING HOSPITAL. Any hospital, as defined by this section, which has been accepted for participation in the hospital service program for indigents.
- (5) PARTICIPATING COUNTY. Any county in which the county commission of the county certifies in writing to the State Board of Health not later than January 1 of each year, that the county does desire to participate in the hospital service program for indigents during the current fiscal year.
(Acts 1957, No. 394, p. 539, §2.)