The Department of Health and Human Services shall be the overseer of the poor and shall be vested with the entire and exclusive superintendence of the poor in this state, except that the county board of each county shall furnish such medical service as may be required for the poor of the county who are not eligible for other medical assistance programs and general assistance for the poor of the county. Any person who is or becomes ineligible for other medical assistance programs due to his or her own actions or inactions shall also be ineligible for medical services from the county.

The county board of each county shall administer the medical assistance provided pursuant to this section. A county board may enter into an agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services which allows the department to aid in the administration of such medical assistance program. In providing medical and hospital care for the poor, the county board shall make use of any existing facilities, including tax-supported hospitals and charitable clinics so far as the same may be available, and shall use the financial eligibility criteria established for the standard of need developed by the county pursuant to section 68-126.

A county board may transfer funds designated for public assistance to the Department of Health and Human Services for purposes of payments to providers who serve eligible recipients of medical assistance or low-income uninsured persons and meet federal and state disproportionate-share payment requirements pursuant to subdivision (2)(c) of section 68-910.