A. Charges for care, treatment and services for any person sent by order of a district court to any county hospital or municipally owned hospital serving as a county hospital which is located outside the county of commitment shall be paid:

(1)     by the patient, if he is able to pay; or

(2)     by the county from which the patient was committed.

B. When a county is required by this section to pay such charges to another county, it shall levy and collect assessments as provided in the Hospital Funding Act.