Kootenai Medical Center v. Bonner County Commissioners

BURDICK, Justice.

This is a medical indigency ease. Appellant, Kootenai Medical Center (KMC), appeals from the district court’s decision affirming the Board of Bonner County Commissioners’ decision denying indigent assistance for services rendered to a voluntarily admitted indigent patient. We reverse.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

An indigent female resident of Bonner County voluntarily admitted herself to the North Idaho Behavioral Health Unit (psychiatric unit) of KMC on two separate occasions: September 12 through September 21, 2001, and December 10 through December 16, 2001. Neither the…