The secretary is hereby authorized to receive federal funds in behalf of, and transmit them to, such applicants or to approve applicants for federal funds and authorize the payment of such funds directly to such applicants as may be allowed by federal law. To achieve that end there is hereby established, separate and apart from all public moneys and funds of this state, a trust fund to be known as the "hospital and medical facility construction fund", of which the state treasurer shall ex officio be custodian. Moneys received from the federal government for construction projects approved by the surgeon general shall be deposited to the credit of this fund, shall be used solely for payments due applicants for work performed, or purchases made, in carrying out approved projects. Vouchers covering all payments from the hospital and medical facility construction fund shall be prepared by the department of health and shall bear the signature of the secretary or his or her duly authorized agent for such purpose, and warrants therefor shall be signed by the state treasurer.