The board of commissioners of any county of the third class is hereby authorized to enter into agreements with general hospitals within its boundaries for the care of indigent and part-pay patients affected with contagious diseases, provided such hospitals have a rating of class A, are nonsectarian, operated on a nonprofit basis, and definitely provide free care for the indigent within their zone of influence.

The board of commissioners of any such county is hereby authorized and empowered, with the approval of the court of common pleas of the county, to appropriate money to such hospitals for the construction and equipping of buildings, wings or units for the care, isolation and treatment of contagious disease cases and may include in such appropriations, items with reference to the maintenance, operation, depreciation, obsolescence and division of overhead costs incurred therein, as determined by agreement between such hospitals and the board of commissioners of any such county.