Iowa Code § 347.17
It shall be the duty of the trustees either by themselves or through the superintendent to make collections of all accounts for hospital services rendered to persons other than indigent patients or patients entitled to free care as provided in section 347.16. Such account shall be payable on presentation to the person liable therefor of an itemized statement and if not paid or secured within sixty days after such presentation the said trustees shall proceed to enforce collections by such means as are necessary and are authorized to employ any person for that purpose, and if legal proceedings are required they may employ counsel, the employment in either event to be on such arrangement for compensation as the trustees deem appropriate, provided, however, that should the county attorney act as attorney for the board in any such legal proceedings the county attorney shall serve without additional compensation.
Iowa Code § 347.17