Arizona Revised Statutes

Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 11-291 (2026)

Hospitalization and medical care of the sick

✓ current as of May 2026
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A. Except as provided in sections 11-293 and 36-183.01 and title 36, chapter 29, the board of supervisors may provide for the hospitalization and medical care of the sick in the county and, to the extent that such expenses are not covered by a third party payor, to persons under the supervision of a county corrections agency. For the purposes of this subsection, third party payor does not include the Arizona health care cost containment system or the Arizona long-term care system and hospitalization and medical care does not include long-term care.

B. The board may employ physicians and other persons necessary to accomplish the purpose of this section.

C. In carrying out the powers and duties prescribed by section 11-251, paragraph 5 and subsection A of this section and for health care education purposes, the board may contract with any qualified person or entity to provide all or a part of the services. Such contracts may be for a term of not more than ten years.

D. The board may enter into contracts for the operation of a county health care system for a term of not more than five years pursuant to procedures adopted by the board. The procedures shall require the exercise of sound business judgment and efforts to obtain contracts that are the most advantageous to the county.

E. The county is entitled to a lien for the charges for any services provided by the hospital or medical care and treatment of an injured person or the provision of long-term care services for which it is responsible pursuant to subsection A of this section or section 11-293, on any and all claims of liability or indemnity for damages accruing to the person to whom hospital or medical service is rendered, or to the legal representative of such person, on account of injuries giving rise to such claims and that necessitated the hospital or medical care and treatment. Recovery of charges pursuant to this subsection shall be in a manner as nearly as possible the same as the procedures prescribed in section 36-2915.

F. A person who receives services pursuant to this article to that extent only shall assign to the county by operation of law that person's rights to all types of medical benefits to which the person is entitled, including first party medical benefits under automobile insurance policies. The county has a right to subrogation against any other person or firm to enforce the assignment of medical benefits. The requirements of this subsection control over the provisions of any insurance policy that provides benefits to a person if the policy is inconsistent with this subsection.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 32 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1958–2022 · leading case: City of Phoenix v. Super. Ct., Maricopa Cty., 677 P.2d 1283 (Ariz. 1984).
City of Phoenix v. Super. Ct., Maricopa Cty., 677 P.2d 1283 (Ariz. 1984). · cites it 6× “* * * A.R.S. § 11-291(A) (footnote omitted). As to the last statute we note that city prisoners are not under the supervision of a "county corrections agency.”
Mem'l Hosp. v. Maricopa Cnty., 415 U.S. 250 (1974). · cites it 2× “1973-1974) provides in relevant part that: "Except in emergency cases when immediate hospitalization or medical care is necessary for the preservation of life or limb no person shall be provided hospitalization, medical care or outpatient relief under the provisions of this…”
Arnold v. Arizona Dep't of Health Servs., 775 P.2d 521 (Ariz. 1989). · cites it 2× “Division 2 of the Court of Appeals has held that A.R.S. § 11-291 imposes upon the *604 county “the sole and exclusive authority to provide for the hospitalization and medical care of the indigent sick in the county.”
Coconino Cnty. v. Fund Administrators Ass'n, 719 P.2d 693 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1986). · cites it 4× “Prior to and during the period of his hospitalization, Micole was categorically eligible for county medical assistance as administered by Coconino County, a body politic, pursuant to then A.R.S. §§ 11-291, et seq. 1 This series of statutes provided Co-conino County with the…”
City of Phoenix v. Superior Court, 677 P.2d 1283 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1984). · cites it 6× “* * * A.R.S. § 11-291(A) (footnote omitted). As to the last statute we note that city prisoners are not under the supervision of a “county corrections agency.”
Matter of Est. of Miles, 837 P.2d 1177 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1992). · cites it 8× “The County contends the trial court erred by (1) refusing to rule on the validity of its lien under A.R.S. § 11-291(F); (2) denying prejudgment interest; (3) denying its taxable costs; (4) denying it interest on the judgment at the legal rate of 10 percent; and (5) denying its…”
Picht v. Peoria Unified Sch. Dist. No. 11 of Maricopa Cnty., 641 F. Supp. 2d 888 (D. Ariz. 2009). · cites it 6× “The plaintiffs in that case sought damages for permanent injuries suffered as a result of a wrongful denial of mandated benefits.”
Scottsdale Mem'l Health Sys., Inc. v. Maricopa Cnty., 228 P.3d 117 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 4× “The statutes at issue in our separate memorandum decision have been repealed. See 2001 Ariz.”
Physical Therapy Assocs., Inc. v. Pinal Cnty., 743 P.2d 1 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1987). · cites it 9× “All contracts for the operation of a county hospital for a term of more than two years shall be let to the best responsible bidder after advertising for sealed bids in a newspaper and by notice posted in three or more public places in the county at least ten days before awarding…”
Andrews v. Samaritan Health Sys., 36 P.3d 57 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2001). · cites it 2× “2000); A.R.S. § 11-291(F) (allowing county providers to recover from indigent tort recoveries); see also 42 U.”
Marshall v. Williams, 627 P.2d 242 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1981). · cites it 4× “Appellees brought a cross-motion for partial summary judgment, contending that it was proper for the County Board of Supervisors to set the standards for indigency under A.R.S. § 11-291 and that the delegation of authority to the Department of Economic Security to define…”
Roe v. Arizona Bd. of Regents, 549 P.2d 150 (Ariz. 1976). · cites it 4× “A.R.S. § 11-291. Pima County, where plaintiff resides, has established a county hospital.”
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 11-291(A) — 6 cases
City of Phoenix v. Super. Ct., Maricopa Cty., 677 P.2d 1283 (Ariz. 1984). “* * * A.R.S. § 11-291(A) (footnote omitted). As to the last statute we note that city prisoners are not under the supervision of a "county corrections agency.”
City of Phoenix v. Superior Court, 677 P.2d 1283 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1984). “* * * A.R.S. § 11-291(A) (footnote omitted). As to the last statute we note that city prisoners are not under the supervision of a “county corrections agency.”
Kurti v. Maricopa Cnty., 33 P.3d 499 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2001).
Feliciano v. Penzone (Ariz. Ct. App. 2018).
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 11-291(D) — 1 case
Physical Therapy Assocs., Inc. v. Pinal Cnty., 743 P.2d 1 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1987). “All contracts for the operation of a county hospital for a term of more than two years shall be let to the best responsible bidder after advertising for sealed bids in a newspaper and by notice posted in three or more public places in the county at least ten days before awarding…”
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 11-291(F) — 3 cases
Matter of Est. of Miles, 837 P.2d 1177 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1992). “The County contends the trial court erred by (1) refusing to rule on the validity of its lien under A.R.S. § 11-291(F); (2) denying prejudgment interest; (3) denying its taxable costs; (4) denying it interest on the judgment at the legal rate of 10 percent; and (5) denying its…”
Andrews v. Samaritan Health Sys., 36 P.3d 57 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2001). “2000); A.R.S. § 11-291(F) (allowing county providers to recover from indigent tort recoveries); see also 42 U.”
Miles v. Maricopa Cnty., 837 P.2d 1177 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1992).
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