(a) Any veteran who meets active military, naval or air service requirements, as described in 38 USC 101, as amended from time to time, may apply for admission to the Veterans Residential Services facility or Healthcare Center; 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, 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. Before a hospital submits a bill for services pursuant to this section, such hospital shall take 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 list of payment options and benefits available to cover hospital costs of veterans. As used in this section, “veteran” has the same meaning as provided in section 27-103.

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(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, as amended from time to time, may apply for admission to the Veterans Residential Services facility or Healthcare Center.

(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 Veterans Residential Services facility or to a hospital, including the Healthcare Center, and such veteran, if admitted, may, upon application to the commissioner, receive transportation at the expense of the state from his or her place of residence to said facility or such hospital. No veteran so admitted shall be discharged from said facility except upon the approval of the commissioner or his or her designee. The commissioner shall have sole power to remove from any hospital to another hospital any veteran whose care and treatment is paid for by the state and shall appoint such agents as are necessary to see that veterans admitted to hospitals are receiving 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 Department of Veterans Affairs 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 department 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.