II 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 3017 

To expand the provision and availability of dental care furnished by the 

Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

OCTOBER 20, 2021 

Mr. SANDERS (for himself, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Mr. BOOKER, and Ms. HIRONO) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 

To expand the provision and availability of dental care furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for 

other purposes. 

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. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Veterans Dental Care 

5 Eligibility Expansion and Enhancement Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 

7 It is the sense of Congress that— 

8 (1) the Department of Veterans Affairs has pio9 neered a whole health approach to health care, which 


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1 brought mental health and suicide prevention under 

2 the umbrella of primary care and integrated health, 

3 provides access to alternative medicines, delivers a 

4 holistic approach to health and well-being, and re5 peatedly demonstrates better health outcomes than 

6 the private sector at a low cost to taxpayers in the 

7 United States; 

8 (2) the effects of poor dental care are seen in 

9 patients who are at risk of or diagnosed with diabe10 tes, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary conditions, 

11 kidney impairment, and even dementia; 

12 (3) the Department spends countless dollars on 

13 prescription drugs, community care, urgent care, 

14 and emergency room visits on preventable ailments 

15 that would be reduced or eliminated through pre16 ventative dental care; and 

17 (4) in order to best achieve a whole health 

18 model for the provision of health care to veterans 

19 and reduce long-term costs, the Department must 

20 furnish veterans with preventative and comprehen21 sive dental care. 


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1 SEC. 3. REQUIREMENT THAT SECRETARY OF VETERANS AF2 FAIRS FURNISH DENTAL CARE IN THE SAME 

3 MANNER AS ANY OTHER MEDICAL SERVICE. 

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

5 amended— 

6 (1) in section 1701(6)(B), by striking ‘‘as de7 scribed in sections 1710 and 1712 of this title’’; 

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

9 sentence; and 

10 (3) in section 1712— 

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

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

13 and (e) as subsections (a), (b), and (c), respec14 tively; and 

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

16 subparagraph (B)— 

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

18 and inserting ‘‘The Secretary may furnish 

19 dentures, dental appliances’’; and 

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

21 Secretary under this section may be pro22 cured by the Secretary’’ and inserting 

23 ‘‘under this section and may procure such 

24 appliances’’. 

25 (b) CONFORMING AND CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.— 

26 (1) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 


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1 (A) PROTECTION OF HEALTH CARE ELIGI2 BILITY.—Section 1525(a) of such title is 

3 amended by striking ‘‘medicines under section 

4 1712(d)’’ and inserting ‘‘medicines under sec5 tion 1712(b)’’. 

6 (B) DENTAL INSURANCE PLAN.—Section 

7 1712C(h) of such title is amended— 

8 (i) by striking ‘‘section 1712 of this 

9 title’’ and inserting ‘‘this chapter’’; and 

10 (ii) by striking ‘‘such section 1712’’ 

11 and inserting ‘‘this chapter’’. 

12 (2) HEADING AMENDMENT.—The heading for 

13 section 1712 of such title is amended to read as fol14 lows: 

15 ‘‘§ 1712. Appliances; drugs and medicines for certain 

16 disabled veterans; vaccines’’. 

17 (3) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec18 tions at the beginning of subchapter II of chapter 17 

19 of such title is amended by striking the item relating 

20 to section 1712 and inserting the following new 

21 item: 

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

22 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 

23 this section shall take effect on the date that is one year 

24 after the date of the enactment of this Act. 


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1 SEC. 4. EXPANSION OF FURNISHING BY DEPARTMENT OF 

2 VETERANS AFFAIRS OF DENTAL CARE TO ALL 

3 ENROLLED VETERANS. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

5 shall furnish dental care to all veterans enrolled in the sys6 tem of annual patient enrollment of the Department of 

7 Veterans Affairs established and operated under section 

8 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code, pursuant to the 

9 phased approach required under this section. 

10 (b) PHASE ONE REQUIRED.— 

11 (1) COMMENCEMENT.— 

12 (A) IN GENERAL.—Commencing not later 

13 than one year after the date of the enactment 

14 of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

15 shall furnish dental care to all covered veterans 

16 who are not eligible for dental services and 

17 treatment and related dental appliances under 

18 the laws administered by the Secretary as of 

19 the date of the enactment of this Act. 

20 (B) PHASE ONE.—In this section, the fur21 nishing of dental care under subparagraph (A) 

22 shall be referred to as ‘‘phase one’’. 

23 (2) DURATION OF PHASE ONE.—Phase one 

24 shall be carried out during the two-year period be25 ginning on the date of the commencement of phase 

26 one. 


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1 (3) LOCATIONS.— 

2 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 

3 carry out phase one at the following locations: 

4 (i) Each medical center of the Depart5 ment with an established dental clinic. 

6 (ii) Not fewer than four military med7 ical treatment facilities of the Department 

8 of Defense with the capacity to furnish 

9 dental care, which shall be selected in con10 sultation with the Secretary of Defense. 

11 (iii) Not fewer than four community12 based outpatient clinics with space avail13 able for the furnishing of dental care under 

14 phase one. 

15 (iv) Not fewer than four Federally 

16 Qualified Health Centers. 

17 (v) Not fewer than four facilities of 

18 the Indian Health Service with established 

19 dental clinics, which shall be selected in 

20 consultation with the Secretary of Health 

21 and Human Services. 

22 (B) CONSIDERATIONS.—In selecting loca23 tions for phase one, the Secretary shall consider 

24 the feasibility and advisability of selecting loca25 tions in each of the following: 


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1 (i) Rural areas. 

2 (ii) Areas that are not in close prox3 imity to an active duty military installa4 tion. 

5 (iii) Areas representing different geo6 graphic locations, such as census tracts es7 tablished by the Bureau of the Census. 

8 (C) MOBILE DENTAL CLINICS.—In car9 rying out phase one, the Secretary shall test the 

10 efficacy of mobile dental clinics to service rural 

11 areas that do not have a population base to 

12 warrant a full-time clinic but where there are 

13 covered veterans in need of dental care. 

14 (D) HOME-BASED DENTAL CARE.—In car15 rying out phase one, the Secretary shall test the 

16 efficacy of portable dental care units to service 

17 rural veteran in their homes, as the Secretary 

18 considers medically appropriate. 

19 (4) SCOPE OF SERVICES.—The dental care fur20 nished to covered veterans under phase one shall be 

21 consistent with the dental services and treatment 

22 furnished by the Secretary to veterans with service23 connected disabilities rated 100-percent disabling 

24 under the laws administered by the Secretary. 


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1 (5) USE OF TELEMEDICINE.—When providing 

2 dental services via telemedicine under phase one, the 

3 Secretary shall use Federal employees to the max4 imum extent possible. 

5 (6) VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION.—The partici6 pation of a covered veteran in phase one shall be at 

7 the election of the veteran. 

8 (7) COPAYMENTS.—The Secretary may collect 

9 copayments for dental care furnished under phase 

10 one in accordance with authorities on the collection 

11 of copayments for medical care of veterans under 

12 chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code. 

13 (8) ADMINISTRATION.— 

14 (A) NOTICE TO COVERED VETERANS ON

15 PHASE ONE.—In carrying out phase one, the 

16 Secretary shall inform all covered veterans of 

17 the services and treatment available under 

18 phase one. 

19 (B) CONTRACTS.— 

20 (i) IN GENERAL.—Subject to clause 

21 (iii), in carrying out phase one, the Sec22 retary may enter into contracts with ap23 propriate entities for the provision of den24 tal care under phase one. 


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1 (ii) PERFORMANCE STANDARDS AND

2 METRICS.—Each contract entered into 

3 under clause (i) shall specify performance 

4 standards and metrics and processes for 

5 ensuring compliance of the contractor con6 cerned with such performance standards. 

7 (iii) LIMITATION.—The Secretary may 

8 only enter into contracts under clause (i) if 

9 the Secretary determines that the Depart10 ment does not employ, and cannot recruit 

11 and retain, qualified dentists, dental hy12 gienists, and oral surgeons in the applica13 ble location. 

14 (9) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 

15 (A) COVERED VETERAN.—The term ‘‘cov16 ered veteran’’ means a veteran enrolled in the 

17 system of annual patient enrollment of the De18 partment of Veterans Affairs established and 

19 operated under section 1705(a) of title 38, 

20 United States Code, pursuant to paragraph (1) 

21 or (2) of such section. 

22 (B) FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CEN23 TER.—The term ‘‘Federally Qualified Health 

24 Center’’ means a Federally-qualified health cenVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:11 Oct 21, 2021 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3017.IS S3017

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1 ter as defined in section 1905(l)(2)(B) of the 

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

3 (c) EXPANSION.— 

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—After the completion of 

5 phase one, the Secretary shall expand the provision 

6 of dental care under this section to all veterans, in7 cluding through the use of the recommendations of 

8 the Secretary under subsection (d)(2)(F), as follows: 

9 (A) In phase two, which shall— 

10 (i) commence not later than 90 days 

11 after the completion of phase one; and 

12 (ii) consist of the provision of dental 

13 care to all veterans enrolled in the system 

14 of annual patient enrollment of the De15 partment of Veterans Affairs established 

16 and operated under section 1705(a) of title 

17 38, United States Code, pursuant to para18 graph (1), (2), (3), or (4) of such section. 

19 (B) In phase three, which shall— 

20 (i) commence not later than 90 days 

21 after the completion of phase two; and 

22 (ii) consist of the provision of dental 

23 care to all veterans enrolled in such system 

24 pursuant to paragraph (1), (2), (3), (4), 

25 (5), or (6) of such section. 


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1 (C) In phase four, which shall— 

2 (i) commence not later than 90 days 

3 after the completion of phase three; and 

4 (ii) consist of the provision of dental 

5 care to all veterans enrolled in such sys6 tem. 

7 (2) FACILITY EXPANSION.—Under each phase 

8 specified in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ex9 pand the number of facilities described in subsection 

10 (b)(3) furnishing dental care under this section com11 mensurate to the number of new veterans furnished 

12 care under such phase, including through the use of 

13 any other facilities to which veterans have access. 

14 (3) DURATION.—Each phase specified in para15 graph (1) shall be carried out during a period not 

16 to exceed two years and all such phases, including 

17 phase one, shall be carried out for a period not to 

18 exceed eight years. 

19 (4) CONCLUSION.—Upon the conclusion of 

20 phase four specified under paragraph (1)(C), all vet21 erans enrolled in the system of annual patient enroll22 ment of the Department of Veterans Affairs estab23 lished and operated under section 1705(a) of title 

24 38, United States Code, shall be eligible for dental 

25 care from the Department. 


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1 (d) REPORTS.— 

2 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days be3 fore the completion of phase one, and not later than 

4 180 days after the completion of each subsequent 

5 phase under subsection (c)(1), the Secretary shall 

6 submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and 

7 the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and 

8 the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Com9 mittee on Armed Services of the House of Rep10 resentatives a report on the phase about to be com11 pleted and the plans of the Secretary for implemen12 tation of expansion of the provision of dental care 

13 pursuant to subsection (c). 

14 (2) CONTENTS.—Each report under paragraph 

15 (1) shall include the following: 

16 (A) A description of the implementation 

17 and operation of the phase covered by the re18 port. 

19 (B) The number of veterans receiving den20 tal care under such phase and a description of 

21 the dental care furnished to such veterans. 

22 (C) An analysis of the costs and benefits 

23 of such phase, including a comparison of costs 

24 and benefits by location type. 


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1 (D) An assessment of the impact of such 

2 phase on appointments for care, prescriptions, 

3 hospitalizations, emergency room visits, well4 ness, employability, and satisfaction of patients, 

5 and perceived quality of life of veterans. 

6 (E) An analysis and assessment of the effi7 cacy of mobile clinics and home-based dental 

8 care to service the dental needs of veterans dur9 ing such phase. 

10 (F) The findings and conclusions of the 

11 Secretary with respect to such phase. 

12 (G) A comparison of the costs for private 

13 sector dental care with cost of furnishing dental 

14 care from the Department, broken down by 

15 each locality included in such phase. 

16 (H) Such recommendations for the expan17 sion of dental care pursuant to subsection (c) 

18 as the Secretary considers appropriate. 

19 SEC. 5. REQUIREMENT OF DENTAL CLINIC OF DEPART20 MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS IN EACH 

21 STATE. 

22 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

23 shall ensure that each State has a dental clinic of the De24 partment of Veterans Affairs to service the needs of the 

25 veterans within that State. 


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1 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 

2 on the date that is one year after the date of the enact3 ment of this Act. 

4 SEC. 6. PROGRAM ON EDUCATION TO PROMOTE DENTAL 

5 HEALTH IN VETERANS. 

6 (a) PROGRAM REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Vet7 erans Affairs shall carry out a program of education to 

8 promote dental health for veterans who are enrolled in the 

9 system of annual patient enrollment of the Department 

10 of Veterans Affairs established and operated under section 

11 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code. 

12 (b) ELEMENTS.—The program required by sub13 section (a) shall provide education for veterans on the fol14 lowing: 

15 (1) The association between dental health and 

16 overall health and well-being. 

17 (2) Proper techniques for dental care. 

18 (3) Signs and symptoms of commonly occurring 

19 dental conditions. 

20 (4) Treatment options for commonly occurring 

21 dental issues. 

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

23 including information on eligibility for dental care 

24 through the Department. 


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1 (6) Available and accessible options for obtain2 ing low or no-cost dental care, including through 

3 dental schools and Federally Qualified Health Cen4 ters. 

5 (7) Such other matters relating to dental health 

6 as the Secretary considers appropriate. 

7 (c) DELIVERY OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS.— 

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

9 educational materials to veterans under the program 

10 required by subsection (a) through a variety of 

11 mechanisms, including the following: 

12 (A) The availability and distribution of 

13 print materials at facilities of the Department 

14 (including at medical centers, clinics, Vet Cen15 ters, and readjustment counseling centers) and 

16 to providers (including members of Patient 

17 Aligned Care Teams). 

18 (B) The availability and distribution of 

19 materials over the internet, including through 

20 webinars, My HealtheVet, and VA.gov. 

21 (C) Presentations by the dental program 

22 office of the Department of information, includ23 ing both small group and large group presen24 tations, and distribution of such information to 


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1 all locations in which the program is being car2 ried out. 

3 (2) SELECTION OF MECHANISMS.—In selecting 

4 mechanisms under paragraph (1), the Secretary 

5 shall select mechanisms designed to maximize the 

6 number of veterans who receive education under the 

7 program. 

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

9 construed to alter or revise the eligibility of any veteran 

10 for dental care under the laws administered by the Sec11 retary. 

12 (e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 

13 (1) FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CEN14 TER.—The term ‘‘Federally Qualified Health Cen15 ter’’ means a Federally-qualified health center as de16 fined in section 1905(l)(2)(B) of the Social Security 

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

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

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

20 title 38, United States Code. 

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

22 on the date that is one year after the date of the enact23 ment of this Act. 


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1 SEC. 7. STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM TO 

2 INCENTIVIZE DENTAL TRAINING AND EN3 SURE THE DENTAL WORKFORCE OF THE DE4 PARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

5 (a) PROGRAM REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Vet6 erans Affairs, to ensure that the Department of Veterans 

7 Affairs has sufficient staff to provide dental service to vet8 erans, shall implement a loan reimbursement program for 

9 qualified dentists, dental hygienists, and oral surgeons 

10 who agree— 

11 (1) to be appointed by the Secretary as a den12 tist, dental hygienist, or oral surgeon, as the case 

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

14 States Code; and 

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

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

17 pursuant to such appointment at a dental clinic of 

18 the Department for a period of not less than five 

19 years. 

20 (b) MAXIMUM AMOUNT.—The Secretary may reim21 burse not more than— 

22 (1) $75,000 for each dentist participating in 

23 the program under subsection (a); 

24 (2) $10,000 for each dental hygienist partici25 pating in such program; and 


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1 (3) $20,000 for each oral surgeon participating 

2 in such program. 

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

4 monitor demand among veterans for dental care and re5 quire participants in the program under subsection (a) to 

6 choose from dental clinics of the Department with the 

7 greatest need for dentists, dental hygienists, or oral sur8 geons, as the case may be, according to facility enrollment 

9 and patient demand. 

10 SEC. 8. EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING PARTNERSHIPS FOR 

11 DENTISTS, DENTAL HYGIENISTS, AND ORAL 

12 SURGEONS. 

13 The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall enter into 

14 educational and training partnerships with dental schools 

15 to provide training and employment opportunities for den16 tists, dental hygienists, and oral surgeons. 

17 SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

18 (a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appro19 priated for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal 

20 year 2021 such sums as may be necessary to carry out 

21 this Act and the amendments made by this Act. 

22 (b) AVAILABILITY.—The amount authorized to be ap23 propriated under subsection (a) shall be available for obliVerDate Sep 11 2014 21:58 Oct 27, 2021 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3017.IS S3017

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1 gation for the eight-year period beginning on the date that 

2 is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

Æ 


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