1.  Coordination.  The department, with the assistance of the bureau, shall seek to coordinate services with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and state agencies that offer mental health care services or provide assistance to veterans.  

2.  Regional contracts.  The department may enter into regional contracts, including a contract with a provider that has experience providing services in the northern part of the State, for the purpose of ensuring a statewide network of case management that provides coordinated mental health care services for veterans living in the State, including, but not limited to, inpatient treatment as clinically required. Contracted providers shall, at a minimum, connect each individual referred to the provider for case management services with a veteran service officer at the bureau, who shall assist the individual in accessing the state and federal veterans benefits to which the individual may be entitled.  

3.  Eligibility.  An individual who served in the Armed Forces of the United States and meets the definition of "veteran" under 38 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 3.1 or who has served or is currently serving in the Maine Army National Guard or Air National Guard or the Reserves of the Armed Forces of the United States is eligible to receive services under this subchapter. The character of a veteran's discharge from service is not a disqualifying eligibility criterion to receive services under this subchapter. A veteran who has received a mental health diagnosis or mental health disability rating from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs is eligible to receive services under this subchapter. A veteran who is not enrolled with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs who is determined to require mental health care services by a licensed mental health professional may be considered eligible for case management and other behavioral health services under this subchapter based on the individual needs of the veteran. The department, with the assistance of the bureau, shall establish criteria to determine eligibility for case management services to be provided under this subchapter.  

4.  Enrollment.  The bureau shall work to assist veterans receiving case management services under this subchapter who are not enrolled with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to determine eligibility and to assist with those veterans' enrollment and with filing claims to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.  

5.  Cultural competency.  Case management and mental health professionals selected to provide services pursuant to this subchapter must demonstrate familiarity with military and veteran culture.  

6.  Data collection.  All veterans receiving case management and mental health services under this subchapter must be accounted for in department and bureau data collections.  

7.  Department report.  The department, in consultation with the bureau, shall prepare a written report of the services provided under this subchapter and make any recommendations regarding its provision of services under this subchapter to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over veterans affairs by February 1st annually.