Where a patient in any state supported or veterans administration hospital in the state has been injured by the negligence of another person other than his employer, or by an employer in employment falling outside of the provisions of the employer's liability laws, and has a right of action for the recovery of compensatory damages against that person, the department or the United States, in the case of veterans administration hospitals in the state, shall be subrogated to the right of action to the extent of reasonable charges for services rendered to the patient, in accordance with like charges in other first class hospitals, including physicians' and surgeons' fees.
La. R.S. § 46:8