1. The county health authority is responsible for the services and expenses necessary for the suppression of human rabies. Suppression of human rabies shall include, but not be limited to:

1. (a) availability at all times for prompt investigation of reports of possible exposures to rabies of people, pets, or domestic livestock occurring within the county, and to render authorization for human postexposure treatment,
2. (b) making arrangements for appropriate disposition of the animals involved, including confinement and observation, quarantines, vaccination boosters, or euthanasia and testing,
3. (c) collection, preparation and submission of animal specimens to a laboratory approved by the commissioner for rabies diagnosis,
4. (d) verifying terms of confinement, observation and quarantines,
5. (e) authorized human postexposure treatment under the conditions hereinafter specified, except that third party coverage or indemnification shall first be applied against the cost of treatment, and
6. (f) operation of rabies vaccination clinics free of charge for dogs, cats and domesticated ferrets owned by persons with local residence.

3. Human postexposure treatment specifically authorized by the county health authority shall be rendered by the provider or providers selected by the county health authority, located within the county or the vicinity thereof, and approved by the person's health insurance carrier or managed care plan if pre-approval is required by the health insurance carrier or managed care plan, provided that:

1. (a) any person may, at his or her option, be treated at his or her own expense by the health care provider of his or her choice,
2. (b) the county health authority may, at its option, assume financial responsibility for necessary treatment rendered by other providers,
3. (c) the county shall authorize initial treatment from a provider or providers geographically accessible to the location of the exposed person at the time that treatment is determined to be necessary, and
4. (d) the county shall authorize post-initial treatment from a provider or providers geographically accessible to the exposed person's residence if the person returns to his or her residence during the course of treatment.

6. Under the terms of this title, the county health authority is not responsible for:

1. (a) services and expenses of human postexposure treatment that were not specifically authorized by the county health authority, except for completion of treatment for their residents exposed and started on rabies treatment in New York city or elsewhere outside of New York state,
2. (b) services and expenses of medical treatment unrelated to the prevention of rabies infection such as wound suturing and measures to control bacterial infection of bite wounds, and
3. (c) expenses of preexposure rabies vaccination.