Where funds appropriated to the department of health and environment have been expended for the purpose of meeting the cost of the care or treatment of any person who is eligible for financial assistance under the provisions of subsections (b) and (c) of K.S.A. 65-1,105, and a third party has a legal obligation to pay such cost or any part thereof to or on behalf of the recipient, the secretary of health and environment may recover the same from the recipient or from the third party and in all respects shall be subrogated to the rights of the recipient in such cases.
K.S.A. 65-1,105a