The county commissioners and the hospital governing board shall have full power and authority to accept federal funds for the erection or enlargement of county hospitals and the maintenance and operation thereof, and to contract as a condition to the acceptance of such funds for the perpetual care in such hospitals of Indian patients at a per diem cost to be set out in the contracts between the appropriate agency of the federal government and the hospital governing boards or county commissioners.
NMS § 4-48B-11