1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to veterans; establishing free or 
  1.3             reduced-cost health care to veterans at medical 
  1.4             facilities and pharmacies throughout the state; 
  1.5             proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, 
  1.6             chapter 197. 
  1.7   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.8      Section 1.  [197.08] [STATEWIDE MEDICAL PROGRAM.] 
  1.9      (a) The board of directors of the Minnesota veterans homes, 
  1.10  in cooperation with the commissioner of veterans affairs and the 
  1.11  United States Veterans Administration, shall supplement the 
  1.12  missions of the veterans homes and the Veterans Administration 
  1.13  hospitals by entering into agreements with health care providers 
  1.14  throughout the state to assure that veterans are afforded free 
  1.15  or reduced-cost health care close to their places of residence.  
  1.16  Health care is available under this section only after a veteran 
  1.17  has exhausted benefits available to the veteran under the 
  1.18  veteran's private health insurance. 
  1.19     (b) Health care available under this section must include, 
  1.20  at a minimum: 
  1.21     (1) acute care; 
  1.22     (2) outpatient care; 
  1.23     (3) long-term care, including nursing home care, assisted 
  1.24  living, and home and community-based care; 
  1.25     (4) treatment for mental health and chemical dependency; 
  1.26  and 
  2.1      (5) prescription drugs. 
  2.2      Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.3      Section 1 is effective July 1, 2001, if by that date the 
  2.4   federal government has enacted legislation authorizing the 
  2.5   Veterans Administration or another federal agency to cooperate 
  2.6   with the state in the administration and funding of section 1.