Bill Text: CT HB05296 | 2014 | General Assembly | Comm Sub
Bill Title: An Act Concerning Admissions To The Veterans' Home Or To A Hospital.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-04-08 - Referred by House to Committee on Appropriations [HB05296 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2014-HB05296-Comm_Sub.html
General Assembly |
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February Session, 2014 |
*_____HB05296VA_PH_031214____* |
AN ACT CONCERNING ADMISSIONS TO THE VETERANS' HOME OR TO A HOSPITAL.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 27-108 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2014):
(a) Any veteran, as defined in subsection (a) of section 27-103, who meets active military, naval or air service requirements, as [defined] described in 38 USC 101, may apply for admission to the home; and any such veteran who has no adequate means of support, and who, from disease, wounds or accident, needs medical or surgical care and treatment or who has become mentally ill, [and who has no adequate means of support,] may be admitted to any hospital and receive necessary food, clothing, care and treatment therein, at the expense of the state. [, unless other funds or means of payment are available.] Whenever a person is admitted to a hospital, such person shall be asked if he or she is a veteran. When a hospital submits a bill for services pursuant to this section, such hospital shall certify that it has taken sufficient steps to determine that no other funds or means of payment are available to cover the cost of services rendered to the veteran. The Department of Veterans' Affairs shall make available to hospitals a general list of funds or means of payment available to cover hospital costs of veterans.
(b) Any member or former member of the armed forces, as defined in subsection (a) of section 27-103, who is a resident of this state and is entitled to retirement pay under 10 USC Chapter 1223, may apply for admission to the home.
(c) Any such veteran desiring care or treatment under the provisions of this chapter shall make application under oath to the Commissioner of Veterans' Affairs; but, if, by reason of his or her physical condition, he or she is unable to make such application, some other veteran may make such application in his or her behalf. Said commissioner, or his or her designee, shall have sole power to determine whether such veteran is entitled to admission to the home. [or to a hospital, and such] Such veteran, if admitted to the home, or to a hospital as provided in subsection (a) of this section, may, upon application to the commissioner, receive transportation at the expense of the state from his or her place of residence to the home or such hospital. No veteran so admitted shall be discharged from the home except upon the approval of the commissioner or his or her designee. [The commissioner shall have sole power to remove any veteran whose care and treatment is paid for by the state from any hospital to another and shall appoint] In the case of veterans admitted to a hospital as provided in subsection (a) of this section, the commissioner may designate such agents as are necessary to [see that veterans admitted to hospitals] determine if such veterans are receiving necessary food, clothing, care and treatment. Any veteran admitted to a hospital as provided in this section shall execute a release permitting the commissioner or his or her agents to determine if the veteran has received the necessary food, clothing, care and treatment.
(d) Such veterans who are able to pay in whole or in part for such program or services, as determined by the applicable fee schedule adopted pursuant to subsection (d) of section 27-102l, shall receive a monthly bill for such services rendered.
(e) In the event that a bill of a veteran remains unpaid and past due, the chief fiscal officer, with the approval of the commissioner, shall require the veteran to assign his or her right to receive payment of income, from whatever source, to the commissioner until (1) such account is made current, and (2) the veteran demonstrates to the satisfaction of the commissioner a reasonable likelihood of more prudent financial management for the future. Any veteran shall be provided an opportunity for a hearing when an order of assignment is issued.
(f) Payment of amounts determined by the commissioner as provided by subsection (c) of this section shall be deposited in the institutional general welfare fund of the Veterans' Home established in accordance with sections 4-56 to 4-58, inclusive, and shall be available for expenditure from said fund for the operation of the Veterans' Home in accordance with procedures prescribed by the commissioner and the Comptroller.
(g) In the event that a veteran dies, still owing money for services rendered, the commissioner, with the aid of the Attorney General's office, may submit a claim against such veteran's estate and any amounts collected shall be deposited in the institutional general welfare fund in accordance with section 4-56.
Sec. 2. Section 27-109 of the general statutes is repealed. (Effective October 1, 2014)
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: | ||
Section 1 |
October 1, 2014 |
27-108 |
Sec. 2 |
October 1, 2014 |
Repealer section |
VA |
Joint Favorable Subst. C/R |
PH |