II 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 4357 

To improve access to oral health care for vulnerable and underserved 

populations. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 16, 2024 

Mr. SANDERS (for himself and Mr. BROWN) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

A BILL 

To improve access to oral health care for vulnerable and 

underserved populations. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 

5 ‘‘Comprehensive Dental Reform Act of 2024’’. 

6 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 

7 this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

TITLE I—MEDICARE AND MEDICAID 

Subtitle A—Medicare 

Sec. 101. Coverage of dental services under the Medicare program. 


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Subtitle B—Medicaid 

Sec. 111. Coverage of dental services under the Medicaid program. 

TITLE II—PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS 

Subtitle A—National Health Service Corps 

Sec. 201. National Health Service Corps. 

Sec. 202. Community based dental residencies. 

Sec. 203. Community-based training of dental students. 

Subtitle B—Oral Health Education 

Sec. 211. Authorization of appropriations for oral health education for medical 

providers. 

Sec. 212. Oral health education for other non-health professionals. 

Sec. 213. Dental education. 

Sec. 214. Oral health professional student loans. 

Subtitle C—Other Oral Health Programs 

Sec. 221. Access points. 

Sec. 222. Dental clinics in schools. 

Sec. 223. Emergency department care coordination. 

Sec. 224. Research funding. 

Sec. 225. Mobile and portable dental services. 

Subtitle D—Oral Health Services as an Essential Health Benefit 

Sec. 231. Oral health services as an essential health benefit. 

TITLE III—DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MATTERS 

Sec. 301. Requirement that Secretary of Veterans Affairs furnish dental care 

in the same manner as any other medical service. 

Sec. 302. Demonstration program on training and employment of alternative 

dental health care providers for dental health care services for 

veterans in rural and other underserved communities. 

Sec. 303. Program of education to promote dental health in veterans. 

Sec. 304. Student loan repayment program to incentivize dental training and 

ensure the dental workforce of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

Sec. 305. Educational and training partnerships for dentists, dental hygienists, 

and oral surgeons. 

TITLE IV—FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS 

Sec. 401. Demonstration program on training and employment of alternative 

dental health care providers for dental health care services for 

prisoners within the custody of the Bureau of Prisons. 

TITLE V—INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE 

Sec. 501. Demonstration program on training and employment of alternative 

dental health care providers for dental health care services 

under the Indian Health Service. 


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TITLE VI—REPORTS TO CONGRESS 

Sec. 601. Reports on enrollment in coverage for oral health services. 

1 TITLE I—MEDICARE AND 

2 MEDICAID 

3 Subtitle A—Medicare 

4 SEC. 101. COVERAGE OF DENTAL SERVICES UNDER THE 

5 MEDICARE PROGRAM. 

6 (a) COVERAGE.—Section 1861(s)(2) of the Social Se7 curity Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(s)(2)) is amended— 

8 (1) in subparagraph (JJ), by inserting ‘‘and’’ 

9 after the semicolon at the end; and 

10 (2) by adding at the end the following new sub11 paragraph: 

12 ‘‘(KK) oral health services (as defined in sub13 section (nnn));’’. 

14 (b) ORAL HEALTH SERVICES DEFINED.—Section 

15 1861 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x) is 

16 amended by adding at the end the following new sub17 section: 

18 ‘‘Oral Health Services 

19 ‘‘(nnn)(1) The term ‘oral health services’ means serv20 ices (as defined by the Secretary) that are necessary to 

21 prevent disease and promote oral health, restore oral 

22 structures to health and function, and treat emergency 

23 conditions. 


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1 ‘‘(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), such term shall 

2 include mobile and portable oral health services (as de3 fined by the Secretary) that— 

4 ‘‘(A) are provided for the purpose of over5 coming mobility, transportation, and access barriers 

6 for individuals; and 

7 ‘‘(B) satisfy the standards and certification re8 quirements established under section 1902(a)(88)(C) 

9 for the State in which the services are provided.’’. 

10 (c) PAYMENT AND COINSURANCE.—Section 

11 1833(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 

12 1395l(a)(1)) is amended— 

13 (1) by striking ‘‘and’’ before ‘‘(HH)’’; and 

14 (2) by inserting before the semicolon at the end 

15 the following: ‘‘, and (II) with respect to oral health 

16 services (as defined in section 1861(nnn)), the 

17 amount paid shall be (i) in the case of such services 

18 that are preventive, 100 percent of the lesser of the 

19 actual charge for the services or the amount deter20 mined under the payment basis determined under 

21 section 1848, and (ii) in the case of all other such 

22 services, 80 percent of the lesser of the actual 

23 charge for the services or the amount determined 

24 under the payment basis determined under section 

25 1848’’. 


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1 (d) PAYMENT UNDER PHYSICIAN FEE SCHEDULE.— 

2 Section 1848(j)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 

3 1395w–4(j)(3)) is amended by inserting ‘‘(2)(KK),’’ after 

4 ‘‘risk assessment),’’. 

5 (e) DENTURES.—Section 1861(s)(8) of the Social Se6 curity Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(s)(8)) is amended— 

7 (1) by striking ‘‘(other than dental)’’ and in8 serting ‘‘(including dentures)’’; and 

9 (2) by striking ‘‘internal body’’. 

10 (f) REPEAL OF GROUND FOR EXCLUSION.—Section 

11 1862(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395y) is 

12 amended by striking paragraph (12). 

13 (g) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 

14 this section shall apply to services furnished on or after 

15 January 1, 2025. 

16 Subtitle B—Medicaid 

17 SEC. 111. COVERAGE OF DENTAL SERVICES UNDER THE 

18 MEDICAID PROGRAM. 

19 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1905 of the Social Secu20 rity Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d) is amended— 

21 (1) in subsection (a)(10), by striking ‘‘dental 

22 services’’ and inserting ‘‘oral health services (as de23 fined in subsection (kk)(1))’’; and 

24 (2) by adding at the end the following: 


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1 ‘‘(kk)(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), for pur2 poses of this title, the term ‘oral health services’ means 

3 services (as defined by the Secretary) that are necessary 

4 to prevent disease and promote oral health, restore oral 

5 structures to health and function, and treat emergency 

6 conditions. These services shall include, in the case of 

7 pregnant or postpartum women, such services as are nec8 essary to address oral health conditions that exist or are 

9 exacerbated by pregnancy or childbirth or which, if left 

10 untreated, could adversely affect fetal or child develop11 ment. 

12 ‘‘(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), such term shall 

13 include— 

14 ‘‘(A) dentures; and 

15 ‘‘(B) mobile and portable oral health services 

16 (as defined by the Secretary) that— 

17 ‘‘(i) are provided for the purpose of over18 coming mobility, transportation, and access bar19 riers for individuals; and 

20 ‘‘(ii) satisfy the standards and certification 

21 requirements established under section 

22 1902(a)(88)(C) for the State in which the serv23 ices are provided. 


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1 ‘‘(3) For purposes of paragraph (1), such term shall 

2 not apply to dental care or services provided to individuals 

3 under the age of 21 under subsection (r)(3).’’. 

4 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 

5 (1) STATE PLAN REQUIREMENTS.—Section 

6 1902(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)) is amend7 ed— 

8 (A) in paragraph (10)(A), in the matter 

9 preceding clause (i), by inserting ‘‘(10),’’ after 

10 ‘‘(5),’’; 

11 (B) in paragraph (86), by striking ‘‘and’’ 

12 at the end; 

13 (C) in paragraph (87), by striking the pe14 riod at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

15 (D) by inserting after paragraph (87) the 

16 following: 

17 ‘‘(88) provide for— 

18 ‘‘(A) informing, in writing, all individuals 

19 who have been determined to be eligible for 

20 medical assistance of the availability of oral 

21 health services (as defined in section 1905(kk)); 

22 ‘‘(B) conducting targeted outreach to preg23 nant women who have been determined to be el24 igible for medical assistance about the avail25 ability of medical assistance for such dental 


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1 services and the importance of receiving dental 

2 care while pregnant; and 

3 ‘‘(C) establishing and maintaining stand4 ards for and certification of mobile and portable 

5 oral health services (as described in subsections 

6 (r)(3)(C) and (kk)(2)(B) of section 1905).’’. 

7 (2) DEFINITION OF MEDICAL ASSISTANCE.— 

8 Section 1905(a)(12) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 

9 1396d(a)(12)) is amended by striking ‘‘, dentures,’’. 

10 (c) MOBILE AND PORTABLE ORAL HEALTH SERV11 ICES UNDER EPSDT.—Section 1905(r)(3) of the Social 

12 Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(r)(3)) is amended— 

13 (1) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking ‘‘; and’’ 

14 and inserting a semicolon; 

15 (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period 

16 at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

17 (3) by adding at the end the following new sub18 paragraph: 

19 ‘‘(C) which shall include mobile and portable 

20 oral health services (as defined by the Secretary) 

21 that— 

22 ‘‘(i) are provided for the purpose of over23 coming mobility, transportation, or access bar24 riers for children; and 


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1 ‘‘(ii) satisfy the standards and certification 

2 requirements established under section 

3 1902(a)(88)(C) for the State in which the serv4 ices are provided.’’. 

5 (d) INCREASED FEDERAL FUNDING FOR DENTAL

6 SERVICES.— 

7 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 1905 of the Social 

8 Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d), as amended by sub9 section (a), is further amended— 

10 (A) in subsection (b), in the first sentence, 

11 by striking ‘‘and (ii)’’ and inserting ‘‘(ii), and 

12 (ll)’’; and 

13 (B) by adding at the end the following new 

14 subsection: 

15 ‘‘(ll) INCREASED FMAP FOR ORAL HEALTH SERV16 ICES.— 

17 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding subsection 

18 (b) and section 1903(a)(7) and subject to the re19 quirements described in paragraphs (3) and (4), 

20 with respect to amounts expended on or after Janu21 ary 1, 2025, for covered oral health expenses (as de22 scribed in paragraph (2)), the Federal medical as23 sistance percentage for a State that is one of the 50 

24 States or the District of Columbia for such expenses 

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1 centage that would otherwise apply to the State for 

2 the fiscal year, as determined under subsection (b) 

3 or section 1903(a)(7), increased by 15 percentage 

4 points. 

5 ‘‘(2) COVERED ORAL HEALTH EXPENSES.—For 

6 purposes of paragraph (1), the term ‘covered oral 

7 health expenses’ means the amounts expended for 

8 medical assistance for oral health services (as de9 fined in subsection (kk)) and amounts expended for 

10 the proper and efficient administration of the provi11 sion of such oral health services under the State 

12 plan. 

13 ‘‘(3) REQUIREMENTS.—For purposes of para14 graph (1), the Federal medical assistance percentage 

15 applicable to covered oral health expenses under this 

16 subsection shall not apply to a State unless— 

17 ‘‘(A) the State plan for medical assistance 

18 provides payment for oral health services (as so 

19 defined) furnished by a health care provider at 

20 a rate that is not less than 70 percent of the 

21 usual and customary fee for such services in the 

22 State; and 

23 ‘‘(B) the State satisfies such additional re24 quirements as are established by the Secretary, 

25 which shall include— 


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1 ‘‘(i) streamlining of administrative 

2 procedures for purposes of ensuring ade3 quate provider participation and increasing 

4 patient utilization of oral health services; 

5 and 

6 ‘‘(ii) the provision of technical assist7 ance to health care providers designed to 

8 reduce the number of missed patient ap9 pointments and reduce other barriers to 

10 the delivery of oral health services. 

11 ‘‘(4) LIMITATION.—For purposes of amounts 

12 expended for covered oral health services, in no case 

13 shall any increase under this subsection result in a 

14 Federal medical assistance percentage that exceeds 

15 100 percent.’’. 

16 (2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 

17 1903(a)(7) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 

18 1396b(a)(7)) is amended by striking ‘‘section 

19 1919(g)(3)(B)’’ and inserting ‘‘sections 1905(ll) and 

20 1919(g)(3)(B)’’. 

21 (e) SECRETARIAL RESPONSIBILITIES.— 

22 (1) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND OUTREACH.— 

23 The Secretary of Health and Human Services, act24 ing through the Administrator of the Centers for 

25 Medicare & Medicaid Services, shall provide techVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:21 Jun 27, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4357.IS S4357

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1 nical assistance to States and conduct outreach to 

2 States for purposes of educating and encouraging 

3 States to utilize and provide payment under each 

4 State Medicaid program for telehealth-enabled den5 tal services in order to provide dental services to tra6 ditionally underserved populations in need of such 

7 services. 

8 (2) DATABASE AND ANNUAL REPORT ON DEN9 TAL BENEFITS FOR ADULT MEDICAID ENROLLEES.— 

10 (A) MEDICAID DENTAL BENEFITS DATA11 BASE.—The Secretary of Health and Human 

12 Services, acting through the Administrator of 

13 the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 

14 shall maintain, as accurately and up-to-date as 

15 possible, a database that contains with respect 

16 to each State (as defined for purposes of title 

17 XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 

18 et seq.)) information regarding the dental bene19 fits available for adults enrolled in the State 

20 Medicaid program, including any limits on such 

21 benefits and the amount of reimbursement pro22 vided under the State Medicaid program for 

23 such benefits. The database also shall include a 

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1 vided under each State Medicaid program for 

2 pregnant women, if such benefits are not pro3 vided to the woman as part of early and peri4 odic screening, diagnostic, and treatment serv5 ices (as defined in section 1905(r) of the Social 

6 Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(r))), and a de7 scription of the use of dental services by chil8 dren and adults enrolled in the State Medicaid 

9 program. 

10 (B) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Secretary of 

11 Health and Human Services shall make avail12 able to the public an annual report regarding 

13 the information collected in the database re14 quired under subparagraph (A). Each annual 

15 report under this subparagraph shall include for 

16 each State Medicaid program and with respect 

17 to the most recent year for which data are 

18 available the yearly dental service utilization 

19 rates for children and adults enrolled in the 

20 State Medicaid program. 

21 (f) EFFECTIVE DATE.— 

22 (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para23 graph (2), the amendments made by this section 

24 shall apply to calendar quarters beginning on or 

25 after January 1, 2025, without regard to whether or 


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1 not final regulations to carry out such amendments 

2 have been promulgated by such date. 

3 (2) DELAY PERMITTED FOR STATE PLAN

4 AMENDMENT.—In the case of a State plan for med5 ical assistance under title XIX of the Social Security 

6 Act which the Secretary of Health and Human Serv7 ices determines requires State legislation (other than 

8 legislation appropriating funds) in order for the plan 

9 to meet the additional requirements imposed by the 

10 amendments made by this section, the State plan 

11 shall not be regarded as failing to comply with the 

12 requirements of such title solely on the basis of its 

13 failure to meet these additional requirements before 

14 the first day of the first calendar quarter beginning 

15 after the close of the first regular session of the 

16 State legislature that begins after the date of enact17 ment of this Act. For purposes of the previous sen18 tence, in the case of a State that has a 2-year legis19 lative session, each year of such session shall be 

20 deemed to be a separate regular session of the State 

21 legislature. 


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1 TITLE II—PUBLIC HEALTH 

2 PROGRAMS 

3 Subtitle A—National Health 

4 Service Corps 

5 SEC. 201. NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE CORPS. 

6 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 331 of the Public Health 

7 Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254d) is amended— 

8 (1) in subsection (a)(3), by adding at the end 

9 the following: 

10 ‘‘(F) The term ‘dental therapist’ means, 

11 with respect to a State or Tribal government 

12 that licenses or certifies such dental therapists, 

13 a mid-level dental practitioner who— 

14 ‘‘(i)(I) is licensed to practice under 

15 the law of the State; or 

16 ‘‘(II) is certified to practice under the 

17 Community Health Aide Program of the 

18 Indian Health Service under section 119 of 

19 the Indian Health Care Improvement Act; 

20 and 

21 ‘‘(ii) provides preventive and restora22 tive services directly to the public, com23 mensurate with the scope of the practice.’’; 

24 and 

25 (2) in subsection (b)— 


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1 (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘dental 

2 therapy programs and’’ after ‘‘schools at 

3 which’’; and 

4 (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘dental 

5 therapists,’’ after ‘‘dentists,’’. 

6 (b) FACILITATION OF EFFECTIVE PROVISION OF

7 CORPS SERVICES.—Section 336(f)(3) of the Public Health 

8 Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254h–1(f)(3)) is amended by in9 serting ‘‘dental therapists,’’ after ‘‘midwives,’’. 

10 (c) SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AND LOAN REPAYMENT

11 PROGRAM.— 

12 (1) SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.—Section 338A of 

13 the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254l) is 

14 amended— 

15 (A) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting ‘‘den16 tal therapists,’’ after ‘‘dentists,’’; and 

17 (B) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting ‘‘in18 cluding dental therapy,’’ after ‘‘or other health 

19 profession,’’. 

20 (2) LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM.—Section 

21 338B of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 

22 254l–1) is amended— 

23 (A) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting ‘‘den24 tal therapists,’’ after ‘‘dentists,’’; and 

25 (B) in subsection (b)(1)— 


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1 (i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting 

2 ‘‘dental therapist,’’ after ‘‘nurse practi3 tioner,’’; 

4 (ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting 

5 ‘‘dental therapy,’’ after ‘‘mental health,’’; 

6 and 

7 (iii) in subparagraph (C)(ii), by in8 serting ‘‘, including dental therapy’’ after 

9 ‘‘health profession’’. 

10 (3) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

11 Section 338H of the Public Health Service Act (42 

12 U.S.C. 254q) is amended— 

13 (A) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘this sec14 tion’’ and inserting ‘‘this subpart’’; and 

15 (B) by adding at the end the following: 

16 ‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS WITH

17 RESPECT TO ORAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.—To carry 

18 out this subpart with respect to dentists, dental therapists, 

19 and dental hygienists, in addition to the amounts author20 ized under subsection (a), there is authorized to be appro21 priated such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 

22 2025 through 2028, which shall be used to provide an 

23 emergency expansion for scholarships to, and loan repay24 ments on behalf of, such oral health professionals.’’. 


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1 SEC. 202. COMMUNITY BASED DENTAL RESIDENCIES. 

2 Section 340H of the Public Health Service Act (42 

3 U.S.C. 256h) is amended by adding at the ending the fol4 lowing: 

5 ‘‘(k) ADDITIONAL FUNDING.—For the purpose of ex6 panding dental residencies at teaching health centers that 

7 operate graduate medical education programs, there is au8 thorized to be appropriated such sums as may be nec9 essary for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2028’’. 

10 SEC. 203. COMMUNITY-BASED TRAINING OF DENTAL STU11 DENTS. 

12 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and 

13 Human Services (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Sec14 retary’’) shall establish a pilot program under which the 

15 Secretary awards grants to eligible entities for the purpose 

16 of supporting the community-based training of dental stu17 dents. Such grants shall be for a 5-year period, beginning 

18 in fiscal year 2025. 

19 (b) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—To be eligible to receive a 

20 grant under this section, an entity shall— 

21 (1) be a Federally-qualified health center, rural 

22 health center, or Tribal health facility; and 

23 (2) submit an application to the Secretary at 

24 such time, in such manner, and containing such in25 formation as the Secretary may require. 

26 (c) SELECTION OF AWARDEES.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall award 6 

2 grants under this section to eligible entities de3 scribed in subsection (b). In making such awards, 

4 the Secretary shall ensure that each entity receiving 

5 a grant operates in a different State (including each 

6 of the several States and the District of Columbia), 

7 territory, or Tribal territory. 

8 (2) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this 

9 section, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible 

10 entities that— 

11 (A) have a focus on training students in 

12 rural and underserved areas; 

13 (B) partner with dental professional 

14 schools and programs associated with a histori15 cally Black college or university (as defined by 

16 the term ‘‘part B institution’’ in section 322 of 

17 the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 

18 1061)) or minority-serving institutions (as de19 scribed in section 371 of such Act (20 U.S.C. 

20 1067q)); or 

21 (C) are located in a State or geographic 

22 area without a dental school. 

23 (d) USE OF FUNDS.—An eligible entity receiving a 

24 grant under this section— 


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1 (1) shall use such funds to establish a training 

2 program for dental, dental hygienist, dental therapy, 

3 and dental assistant students in a community-based, 

4 outpatient setting; 

5 (2) may use such funds— 

6 (A) to support faculty and preceptor wages 

7 and living stipends for trainees; 

8 (B) to purchase equipment, education 

9 tools, and make renovations or alterations to a 

10 training site; and 

11 (C) to provide supportive services such as 

12 child care, transportation, and food assistance 

13 to enable students to persist in and complete a 

14 training program; and 

15 (3) may use up to 5 percent of the grant 

16 amount for planning and development, data collec17 tion and reporting, other administrative purposes. 

18 (e) REPORTING.— 

19 (1) REPORTS FROM ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—Each 

20 eligible entity receiving a grant under this section 

21 shall submit such reports on the program supported 

22 by the grant as the Secretary may require. 

23 (2) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 1 

24 year after the date on which the program under this 

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1 retary shall submit to the Committee on Health, 

2 Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and 

3 the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 

4 House of Representatives a report on the program. 

5 (f) SUNSET.—The grant program under this section 

6 shall terminate on September 30, 2029. 

7 (g) APPROPRIATIONS.—To carry out this section, 

8 there is appropriated, out of amounts in the Treasury not 

9 otherwise appropriated, $4,500,000 for fiscal year 2025, 

10 to remain available through the end of fiscal year 2029. 

11 Subtitle B—Oral Health Education 

12 SEC. 211. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR ORAL 

13 HEALTH EDUCATION FOR MEDICAL PRO14 VIDERS. 

15 Section 747(c) of the Public Health Service Act (42 

16 U.S.C. 293k(c)) is amended by adding at the end the fol17 lowing: 

18 ‘‘(4) ORAL HEALTH EDUCATION.—In addition 

19 to other amounts authorized under this subsection 

20 for purposes of carrying out this section, there is au21 thorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 

22 necessary for fiscal years 2025 through 2028 for the 

23 purpose of educating nondental medical professionals 

24 (including physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, 

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1 larly such professionals who provide care to children 

2 and pregnant and postpartum women) about oral 

3 health, including issues such as oral hygiene instruc4 tion, topical application of fluoride, and oral health 

5 screenings, with the goal of integrating oral health 

6 care into overall health care.’’. 

7 SEC. 212. ORAL HEALTH EDUCATION FOR OTHER NON8 HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. 

9 Subpart I of part C of title VII of the Public Health 

10 Service Act (42 U.S.C. 293k et seq.) is amended by insert11 ing after section 748 the following: 

12 ‘‘SEC. 748A. ORAL HEALTH EDUCATION FOR OTHER NON13 ORAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. 

14 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may make grants 

15 to, or enter into contracts with, an accredited public or 

16 nonprofit private hospital, educational institutions, or pub17 lic or private nonprofit entities that the Secretary has de18 termined to be capable of carrying out such grant or con19 tract to educate individuals, such as community health 

20 workers, social workers, nutritionists, health educators, 

21 occupational therapists, and psychologists, to promote oral 

22 health education and literacy and to provide support for 

23 behavior change and assistance with care coordination 

24 with respect to oral health. 


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1 ‘‘(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To 

2 carry out this section, there is authorized to be appro3 priated such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 

4 2025 through 2028.’’. 

5 SEC. 213. DENTAL EDUCATION. 

6 Section 748 of the Public Health Service Act (42 

7 U.S.C. 293k–2) is amended— 

8 (1) in subsection (a)(1)(H), by striking ‘‘pedi9 atric training programs’’ and inserting ‘‘pediatric 

10 dental training programs’’; and 

11 (2) in subsection (c)— 

12 (A) by striking the subsection heading and 

13 inserting ‘‘REQUIREMENTS FOR AWARD.—’’; 

14 (B) by amending the matter preceding 

15 paragraph (1) to read as follows: ‘‘With respect 

16 to training provided for under this section, the 

17 Secretary shall award grants or contracts only 

18 to eligible entities that meet at least 7 of the 

19 following criteria:’’; 

20 (C) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘have a 

21 record of training the greatest percentage of 

22 providers, or that have demonstrated significant 

23 improvements in the percentage of providers, 

24 who enter and’’ and inserting ‘‘train significant 

25 numbers of providers who’’; 


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1 (D) in paragraph (3)— 

2 (i) by striking ‘‘have a record of train3 ing’’ and inserting ‘‘intend to train’’; and 

4 (ii) by striking the period at the end 

5 and inserting ‘‘and have faculty with expe6 rience in treating underserved popu7 lations.’’; 

8 (E) in paragraph (8), by inserting ‘‘or 

9 have established’’ after ‘‘establish’’; and 

10 (F) by adding at the end the following: 

11 ‘‘(9) Qualified applicants that require not less 

12 than 200 hours of community-based education rota13 tions.’’. 

14 SEC. 214. ORAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL STUDENT LOANS. 

15 Subpart 3 of part E of title VII of the Public Health 

16 Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295f et seq.) is amended by adding 

17 at the end the following: 

18 ‘‘SEC. 779. ORAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL STUDENT LOANS. 

19 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish 

20 and operate a student loan fund for oral health profes21 sional students, including dental hygienists, dental thera22 pists, and dentists. 

23 ‘‘(b) CONTENT.—The Secretary shall establish and 

24 operate the student loan fund program under subsection 

25 (a) in the same manner and subject to the same terms 


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1 as the loan fund program established with schools of nurs2 ing under section 835. 

3 ‘‘(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To 

4 carry out this section, there are authorized to be appro5 priated such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 

6 2025 through 2028.’’. 

7 Subtitle C—Other Oral Health 

8 Programs 

9 SEC. 221. ACCESS POINTS. 

10 Subpart X of part D of title III of the Public Health 

11 Service Act (42 U.S.C. 256f et seq.) is amended by adding 

12 at the end the following: 

13 ‘‘SEC. 340G–2. FUNDING FOR ORAL HEALTH SERVICES. 

14 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through 

15 the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services 

16 Administration, shall establish a program to award grants 

17 to eligible entities to provide oral health services, or to con18 tract with private dental practices to provide comprehen19 sive oral health services, to low-income individuals and in20 dividuals who are underserved with respect to oral health 

21 care. 

22 ‘‘(b) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary shall 

23 provide technical assistance to entities receiving grants 

24 under subsection (a) to provide technical assistance to 

25 such entities in order to— 


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1 ‘‘(1) with respect to oral health care services, 

2 increase utilization and efficiency and minimize 

3 missed appointments, contract with offsite providers, 

4 recruit providers (including oral health specialists), 

5 and operate programs outside the physical facilities 

6 to take advantage of new systems to improve access 

7 to oral health services; 

8 ‘‘(2) address barriers to access to such services 

9 and conduct targeted outreach to special populations 

10 such as pregnant women, individuals with disabil11 ities, individuals with chronic conditions such as dia12 betes, and individuals residing in long-term care fa13 cilities; or 

14 ‘‘(3) contract with private dental practices that 

15 will provide oral health services other than preven16 tive oral health care, including restoration and main17 tenance of oral health, in order to meet the need for 

18 oral health services in the community. 

19 ‘‘(c) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—To be eligible to receive 

20 a grant under subsection (a), an entity shall— 

21 ‘‘(1) be— 

22 ‘‘(A) a Federally qualified health center 

23 (as defined in section 1861(aa) of the Social 

24 Security Act); 


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1 ‘‘(B) a safety net clinic or a free clinic (as 

2 defined by the Secretary); 

3 ‘‘(C) a health care clinic that provides 

4 services to Tribal organizations or urban Indian 

5 organizations (as such terms are defined in sec6 tion 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement 

7 Act); or 

8 ‘‘(D) any other interested public or private 

9 sector health care provider or organization that 

10 the Secretary determines has a demonstrated 

11 history of serving a high number of uninsured 

12 and or low-income individuals or those who lack 

13 ready access to oral health services; and 

14 ‘‘(2) demonstrate a clear need to expand oral 

15 health care services beyond preventive oral health 

16 care. 

17 ‘‘(d) ALLOCATION FOR HIRING ORAL HEALTH CARE

18 SPECIALISTS.—A portion of the funds available under this 

19 section shall be allocated toward hiring oral health care 

20 specialists, such as oral surgeons and endodontists, at en21 tities receiving grants under this section. 

22 ‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To 

23 carry out this section, there is authorized to be appro24 priated such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal 

25 years 2025 through 2028.’’. 


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1 SEC. 222. DENTAL CLINICS IN SCHOOLS. 

2 Part Q of title III of the Public Health Service Act 

3 (42 U.S.C. 280h et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 

4 the following: 

5 ‘‘SEC. 399Z–3. DENTAL CLINICS IN SCHOOLS. 

6 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall award 

7 grants to qualified entities for the purpose of funding the 

8 building, operation, or expansion of dental clinics in 

9 schools. 

10 ‘‘(b) QUALIFIED ENTITIES.—To receive a grant 

11 under this section, a qualified entity shall submit an appli12 cation to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and 

13 containing such information as the Secretary may require. 

14 ‘‘(c) REQUIREMENTS.—An entity receiving a grant 

15 under this section shall— 

16 ‘‘(1) provide comprehensive oral health services 

17 at a dental clinic based at a school, including oral 

18 health education, oral screening, fluoride application, 

19 prophylaxis, sealants, and basic restorative services; 

20 ‘‘(2) develop a coordinated system of care by re21 ferring patients to an available qualified oral health 

22 provider in the community for any required oral 

23 health services not provided in the dental clinic in 

24 the school, including restorative services, to ensure 

25 that all the oral health needs of students are met; 

26 and 


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1 ‘‘(3) maintain clinic hours that extend beyond 

2 school hours. 

3 ‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For 

4 purposes of carrying out this section, there is authorized 

5 to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for fis6 cal years 2025 through 2028.’’. 

7 SEC. 223. EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT CARE COORDINA8 TION. 

9 Part P of title III of the Public Health Service Act 

10 (42 U.S.C. 280g et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 

11 the following: 

12 ‘‘SEC. 399V–8. EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT CARE COORDINA13 TION WITH RESPECT TO DENTAL CARE. 

14 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a 

15 grant program to facilitate individuals receiving dental 

16 care at facilities other than hospital emergency depart17 ments, under which the Secretary awards grants to eligible 

18 entities to cover costs related to construction and renova19 tion, equipment, staff, outreach and education, and any 

20 other allowable uses, with respect to the entity’s facilities, 

21 as the Secretary determines appropriate. 

22 ‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—To be eligible to receive 

23 a grant under this section an entity shall— 

24 ‘‘(1) be— 


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1 ‘‘(A) a Federally qualified health center 

2 (as defined in paragraph (4) of section 

3 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act) or rural 

4 health clinic (as defined in paragraph (2) of 

5 such section); 

6 ‘‘(B) a private dental practice; or 

7 ‘‘(C) any other interested public or private 

8 sector health care provider or organization, 

9 such as a dental school, that the Secretary de10 termines has the capacity to serve in a coordi11 nated, cost-effective manner, a high number of 

12 individuals who lack access to oral health serv13 ices; and 

14 ‘‘(2) partner with a hospital or urgent care cen15 ter. 

16 ‘‘(c) ORAL HEALTH EDUCATION FOR PRIMARY CARE

17 AND ED HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS.—The Secretary 

18 shall allocate a portion of the amounts appropriated under 

19 subsection (e) toward medical education for primary care 

20 and emergency department physicians, nurses, nurse prac21 titioners, and physician assistants to be trained in oral 

22 health. 

23 ‘‘(d) REPORT.—Not later than January 1, 2028, the 

24 Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the best 

25 practices determined by the program established under 


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1 this section to address oral health needs of individuals who 

2 go to emergency departments in need of oral health care. 

3 ‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To 

4 carry out this section, there is authorized to be appro5 priated such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 

6 2025 through 2028.’’. 

7 SEC. 224. RESEARCH FUNDING. 

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—For the period of fiscal years 

9 2025 through 2027, there is authorized to be appropriated 

10 for the Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred 

11 to in this section as the ‘‘Secretary’’) such sums as may 

12 be necessary to conduct, in consultation with the heads 

13 of agencies and offices of the Department of Health and 

14 Human Services, including the Director of the Centers for 

15 Disease Control and Prevention, the Director of the Agen16 cy for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Director of 

17 the National Institutes of Health, and the Administrator 

18 of the Health Resources and Services Administration— 

19 (1) research on— 

20 (A) the prevention of oral disease; 

21 (B) oral disease management; 

22 (C) evidence-based strategies to prevent 

23 tooth decay; 


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1 (D) rigorous, multidisciplinary research2 based approaches to overcome disparities in oral 

3 health; 

4 (E) perinatal, postnatal, and childhood oral 

5 health issues, including the integration of den6 tal providers in settings where pediatricians 

7 practice; 

8 (F) access, quality, and outcomes with re9 spect to oral health services; and 

10 (G) other topics as the Secretary deter11 mines appropriate; and 

12 (2) an evaluation of oral health service delivery 

13 to underserved and vulnerable populations, including 

14 an evaluation of workforce models to enhance oral 

15 health service delivery. 

16 (b) SUPPLEMENT NOT SUPPLANT.—Funds appro17 priated under this section shall be used to supplement, and 

18 not supplant, other Federal, State, and local public funds 

19 provided for activities described in subsection (a). 

20 SEC. 225. MOBILE AND PORTABLE DENTAL SERVICES. 

21 Subpart X of part D of title III of the Public Health 

22 Service Act (42 U.S.C. 256f et seq.), as amended by sec23 tion 221, is further amended by adding at the end the 

24 following: 


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1 ‘‘SEC. 340G–3. MOBILE AND PORTABLE DENTAL SERVICES. 

2 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall award 

3 grants to Federally qualified health centers (as defined in 

4 paragraph (4) of section 1861(aa) of the Social Security 

5 Act), rural health clinics (as defined in paragraph (2) of 

6 such section), nonprofit dental clinics, and dental schools 

7 to provide mobile and portable, comprehensive dental serv8 ices that provide for the restoration or maintenance of oral 

9 health and function (including dental services provided by 

10 licensed providers through telehealth-enabled collaboration 

11 and supervision) and outreach for dental services to un12 derserved populations. 

13 ‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—To be eligible to receive 

14 a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit 

15 an application to the Secretary at such time, in such man16 ner, and containing such information as the Secretary may 

17 require, including information to demonstrate that the en18 tity is capable of providing coordinated care and continuity 

19 of care to patients. 

20 ‘‘(c) USE OF FUNDS.—Eligible entities receiving a 

21 grant under this section shall deliver the dental services 

22 described in subsection (a) at locations such as senior cen23 ters, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, schools, li24 censed child care centers that serve eligible individuals 

25 who receive benefits under the State Children’s Health In26 surance Program under title XXI of the Social Security 


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1 Act or the Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social 

2 Security Act, and facilities that provide services under the 

3 Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, In4 fants, and Children established by section 17 of the Child 

5 Nutrition Act of 1966 or under the Head Start Act. 

6 ‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To 

7 carry out this section, there are authorized to be appro8 priated such sums as may be necessary.’’. 

9 Subtitle D—Oral Health Services as 

10 an Essential Health Benefit 

11 SEC. 231. ORAL HEALTH SERVICES AS AN ESSENTIAL 

12 HEALTH BENEFIT. 

13 Section 1302(b) of the Patient Protection and Af14 fordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18022(b)) is amended— 

15 (1) in paragraph (1)— 

16 (A) in subparagraph (J), by striking ‘‘oral 

17 and’’; and 

18 (B) by adding at the end the following: 

19 ‘‘(K) Oral health services for children and 

20 adults.’’; and 

21 (2) by adding at the end the following: 

22 ‘‘(6) ORAL HEALTH SERVICES.—For purposes 

23 of paragraph (1)(K), the term ‘oral health services’ 

24 means services (as defined by the Secretary), that 

25 are necessary to prevent disease and promote oral 


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1 health, restore oral structures to health and func2 tion, and treat emergency conditions.’’. 

3 TITLE III—DEPARTMENT OF 

4 VETERANS AFFAIRS MATTERS 

5 SEC. 301. REQUIREMENT THAT SECRETARY OF VETERANS 

6 AFFAIRS FURNISH DENTAL CARE IN THE 

7 SAME MANNER AS ANY OTHER MEDICAL 

8 SERVICE. 

9 (a) IN GENERAL.—Title 38, United States Code, is 

10 amended— 

11 (1) in section 1701(6)(B), by striking ‘‘as de12 scribed in sections 1710 and 1712 of this title’’; 

13 (2) in section 1710(c), by striking the second 

14 sentence; 

15 (3) in section 1712— 

16 (A) by striking subsections (a) and (b); 

17 (B) by redesignating subsections (c), (d), 

18 and (e) as subsections (a), (b), and (c), respec19 tively; and 

20 (C) in subsection (a), as redesignated by 

21 subparagraph (B)— 

22 (i) by striking ‘‘Dental appliances’’ 

23 and inserting ‘‘The Secretary may furnish 

24 dentures, dental appliances’’; and 


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1 (ii) by striking ‘‘to be furnished by the 

2 Secretary under this section may be pro3 cured by the Secretary’’ and inserting 

4 ‘‘under this section and may procure such 

5 appliances’’; 

6 (4) in section 1712C(h)— 

7 (A) by striking ‘‘section 1712 of this title’’ 

8 and inserting ‘‘this chapter’’; and 

9 (B) by striking ‘‘outpatient dental services 

10 and treatment, and related dental appliances, 

11 under such section 1712’’ and inserting ‘‘dental 

12 services and appliances under this chapter’’; 

13 and 

14 (5) by striking section 2062. 

15 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 1525(a) of 

16 such title is amended by striking ‘‘medicines under section 

17 1712(d)’’ and inserting ‘‘medicines under section 

18 1712(b)’’. 

19 (c) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—Such title is further 

20 amended— 

21 (1) in section 1712, in the heading for such sec22 tion, by striking ‘‘Dental care’’ and inserting 

23 ‘‘Appliances’’; 


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1 (2) in the table of sections at the beginning of 

2 chapter 17, by striking the item relating to section 

3 1712 and inserting the following new item: 

‘‘1712. Appliances; drugs and medicines for certain disabled veterans; vaccines.’’; 

4 and 

5 (3) in the table of sections at the beginning of 

6 chapter 20, by striking the item relating to section 

7 2062. 

8 SEC. 302. DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM ON TRAINING AND 

9 EMPLOYMENT OF ALTERNATIVE DENTAL 

10 HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS FOR DENTAL 

11 HEALTH CARE SERVICES FOR VETERANS IN 

12 RURAL AND OTHER UNDERSERVED COMMU13 NITIES. 

14 (a) DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.—The 

15 Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out a demonstra16 tion program to establish programs to train and employ 

17 alternative dental health care providers in order to in18 crease access to dental health care services for veterans 

19 who are entitled to such services from the Department of 

20 Veterans Affairs and reside in rural and other underserved 

21 communities. 

22 (b) TELEHEALTH.—For purposes of alternative den23 tal health care providers and other dental care providers 

24 who are licensed to provide clinical care, dental services 


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1 provided under the demonstration program under this sec2 tion may be administered by such providers through tele3 health-enabled collaboration and supervision when appro4 priate and feasible. 

5 (c) ALTERNATIVE DENTAL HEALTH CARE PRO6 VIDERS DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘alternative 

7 dental health care providers’’ has the meaning given that 

8 term in section 340G–1(a)(2) of the Public Health Service 

9 Act (42 U.S.C. 256g–1(a)(2)). 

10 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

11 are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are nec12 essary to carry out the demonstration program under this 

13 section. 

14 SEC. 303. PROGRAM OF EDUCATION TO PROMOTE DENTAL 

15 HEALTH IN VETERANS. 

16 (a) PROGRAM REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Vet17 erans Affairs shall carry out a program of education to 

18 promote dental health for veterans who are enrolled in the 

19 system of annual patient enrollment of the Department 

20 of Veterans Affairs established and operated under section 

21 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code. 

22 (b) ELEMENTS.—The program required by sub23 section (a) shall provide education for veterans on the fol24 lowing: 


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1 (1) The association between dental health and 

2 overall health and well-being. 

3 (2) Proper techniques for dental care. 

4 (3) Signs and symptoms of commonly occurring 

5 dental conditions. 

6 (4) Treatment options for commonly occurring 

7 dental issues. 

8 (5) Options for obtaining access to dental care, 

9 including information on eligibility for dental care 

10 through the Department. 

11 (6) Available and accessible options for obtain12 ing low or no-cost dental care, including through 

13 dental schools and Federally Qualified Health Cen14 ters. 

15 (7) Such other matters relating to dental health 

16 as the Secretary considers appropriate. 

17 (c) DELIVERY OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS.— 

18 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide 

19 educational materials to veterans under the program 

20 required by subsection (a) through a variety of 

21 mechanisms, including the following: 

22 (A) The availability and distribution of 

23 print materials at facilities of the Department 

24 (including at medical centers, clinics, Vet Cen25 ters, and readjustment counseling centers) and 


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1 to providers (including members of Patient 

2 Aligned Care Teams). 

3 (B) The availability and distribution of 

4 materials over the Internet, including through 

5 webinars, My HealtheVet, and VA.gov. 

6 (C) Presentations by the dental program 

7 office of the Department of information, includ8 ing both small group and large group presen9 tations, and distribution of such information to 

10 all locations in which the program is being car11 ried out. 

12 (2) SELECTION OF MECHANISMS.—In selecting 

13 mechanisms under paragraph (1), the Secretary 

14 shall select mechanisms designed to maximize the 

15 number of veterans who receive education under the 

16 program. 

17 (d) CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall be 

18 construed to alter or revise the eligibility of any veteran 

19 for dental care under the laws administered by the Sec20 retary. 

21 (e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

22 (1) FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CEN23 TER.—The term ‘‘Federally Qualified Health Cen24 ter’’ means a Federally-qualified health center as deVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:21 Jun 27, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00040 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4357.IS S4357

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1 fined in section 1905(l)(2)(B) of the Social Security 

2 Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(l)(2)(B)). 

3 (2) VET CENTER.—The term ‘‘Vet Center’’ has 

4 the meaning given that term in section 1712A(h) of 

5 title 38, United States Code. 

6 (f) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 

7 on the date that is one year after the date of the enact8 ment of this Act. 

9 SEC. 304. STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM TO 

10 INCENTIVIZE DENTAL TRAINING AND EN11 SURE THE DENTAL WORKFORCE OF THE DE12 PARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

13 (a) PROGRAM REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Vet14 erans Affairs, to ensure that the Department of Veterans 

15 Affairs has sufficient staff to provide dental services to 

16 veterans, shall implement a loan reimbursement program 

17 for qualified dentists, dental hygienists, and oral surgeons 

18 who agree— 

19 (1) to be appointed by the Secretary as a den20 tist, dental hygienist, or oral surgeon, as the case 

21 may be, under section 7401 of title 38, United 

22 States Code; and 

23 (2) to serve as a dentist, dental hygienist, or 

24 oral surgeon, as the case may be, of the Department 

25 pursuant to such appointment at a dental clinic of 


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1 the Department for a period of not less than five 

2 years. 

3 (b) MAXIMUM AMOUNT.—The Secretary may reim4 burse not more than— 

5 (1) $75,000 for each dentist participating in 

6 the program under subsection (a); 

7 (2) $10,000 for each dental hygienist partici8 pating in such program; and 

9 (3) $20,000 for each oral surgeon participating 

10 in such program. 

11 (c) SELECTION OF LOCATIONS.—The Secretary shall 

12 monitor demand among veterans for dental care and re13 quire participants in the program under subsection (a) to 

14 choose from dental clinics of the Department with the 

15 greatest need for dentists, dental hygienists, or oral sur16 geons, as the case may be, according to facility enrollment 

17 and patient demand. 

18 SEC. 305. EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING PARTNERSHIPS 

19 FOR DENTISTS, DENTAL HYGIENISTS, AND 

20 ORAL SURGEONS. 

21 The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall enter into 

22 educational and training partnerships with dental schools, 

23 including dental programs within a community college, to 

24 provide training and employment opportunities for den25 tists, dental hygienists, and oral surgeons. 


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1 TITLE IV—FEDERAL BUREAU OF 

2 PRISONS 

3 SEC. 401. DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM ON TRAINING AND 

4 EMPLOYMENT OF ALTERNATIVE DENTAL 

5 HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS FOR DENTAL 

6 HEALTH CARE SERVICES FOR PRISONERS 

7 WITHIN THE CUSTODY OF THE BUREAU OF 

8 PRISONS. 

9 (a) DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.—The 

10 Attorney General, acting through the Director of the Bu11 reau of Prisons, may carry out a demonstration program 

12 to establish programs to train and employ alternative den13 tal health care providers in order to increase access to den14 tal health services for prisoners within the custody of the 

15 Bureau of Prisons. 

16 (b) TELEHEALTH.—For purposes of alternative den17 tal health care providers and any other dental care pro18 viders who are licensed to provide clinical care, dental 

19 services provided under the demonstration program under 

20 this section may be administered by such providers 

21 through telehealth-enabled collaboration and supervision 

22 when deemed appropriate and feasible. 

23 (c) ALTERNATIVE DENTAL HEALTH CARE PRO24 VIDERS DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘alternative 

25 dental health care providers’’ has the meaning given that 


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1 term in section 340G–1 of the Public Health Service Act 

2 (42 U.S.C. 256g–1). 

3 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

4 are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are nec5 essary to carry out the demonstration program under this 

6 section. 

7 TITLE V—INDIAN HEALTH 

8 SERVICE 

9 SEC. 501. DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM ON TRAINING AND 

10 EMPLOYMENT OF ALTERNATIVE DENTAL 

11 HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS FOR DENTAL 

12 HEALTH CARE SERVICES UNDER THE INDIAN 

13 HEALTH SERVICE. 

14 (a) DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.—The 

15 Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through 

16 the Indian Health Service, may carry out a demonstration 

17 program to establish programs to train and employ alter18 native dental health care providers in order to help elimi19 nate oral health disparities and increase access to dental 

20 services through health programs operated by the Indian 

21 Health Service, Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and 

22 urban Indian organizations (as those terms are defined in 

23 section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 

24 U.S.C. 1603)). 


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1 (b) TELEHEALTH.—For purposes of alternative den2 tal health care providers and any other dental care pro3 viders who are licensed to provide clinical care, dental 

4 services provided under the demonstration program under 

5 this section may be administered by such providers 

6 through telehealth-enabled collaboration and supervision 

7 when deemed appropriate and feasible. 

8 (c) ALTERNATIVE DENTAL HEALTH CARE PRO9 VIDERS DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘alternative 

10 dental health care providers’’ has the meaning given that 

11 term in section 340G–1(a)(2) of the Public Health Service 

12 Act (42 U.S.C. 256g–1(a)(2)). 

13 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

14 are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are nec15 essary to carry out the demonstration program under this 

16 section. 

17 TITLE VI—REPORTS TO 

18 CONGRESS 

19 SEC. 601. REPORTS ON ENROLLMENT IN COVERAGE FOR 

20 ORAL HEALTH SERVICES. 

21 (a) SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERV22 ICES.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall 

23 submit to Congress the following reports: 

24 (1) COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS.—Not later than 

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1 prehensive cost-benefit analysis regarding the expan2 sion of coverage for dental services pursuant to this 

3 Act, including whether the provision of such services 

4 resulted in a reduction in total health care costs for 

5 individuals under the Medicare and Medicaid pro6 grams. 

7 (2) ANNUAL REPORT ON ENROLLMENT, UTILI8 ZATION, AND EXPENDITURES IN DENTAL INSURANCE

9 PLANS.—Not later than 1 year after the date of the 

10 enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, an 

11 annual report containing detailed information on— 

12 (A) enrollment in private insurance plans 

13 providing pediatric and adult dental coverage, 

14 whether such coverage is provided through a 

15 qualified health plan (as defined in section 

16 1301(a) of the Patient Protection and Afford17 able Care Act (Public Law 111–148)) or a 

18 stand-alone dental plan; 

19 (B) the utilization of oral health services 

20 by children and adults who receive dental cov21 erage under a qualified health plan or a stand22 alone dental plan; and 

23 (C) expenditures related to oral health 

24 services by individuals and families who receive 


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47 

•S 4357 IS

1 dental coverage in a qualified health plan or 

2 stand-alone dental plan. 

3 (b) COMPTROLLER GENERAL.— 

4 (1) MEDICAID AND MEDICARE.—Not later than 

5 January 1, 2028, the Comptroller General of the 

6 United States shall submit to Congress a report that 

7 provides a comprehensive analysis and evaluation of 

8 the implementation and utilization of the expanded 

9 coverage for dental services pursuant to this Act for 

10 individuals enrolled in the Medicare and Medicaid 

11 programs. 

12 (2) DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS.—Not later 

13 than January 1, 2028, the Comptroller General of 

14 the United States shall submit to Congress a report 

15 that provides a comprehensive analysis and evalua16 tion of the demonstration programs described in sec17 tions 302, 401, and 501, including— 

18 (A) the extent to which the programs im19 proved access to oral health care and increased 

20 utilization of oral health services; and 

21 (B) an examination of the training pro22 vided under the programs to alternative dental 

23 health care providers and the quality of care 

24 provided by such providers. 

Æ 


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