Dental Care for Veterans Act

To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish dental care in the same manner as any other medical service, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Dental Care for Veterans Act 2. Requirement that Secretary of Veterans Affairs furnish dental care in the same manner as any other medical service (a) Dental benefits (1) In general Title 38, United States Code, is amended— (A) in section 1701(6), by striking as described in sections 1710 and 1712 of this title (B) in section 1710(c), by striking the second sentence; (C) in section 1712— (i) by striking subsections (a) and (b); (ii) by redesignating subsections (c), (d), (e), and (f) as subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d), respectively; and (iii) in subsection (a), as redesignated by subparagraph (B)— (I) by striking Dental appliances The Secretary may furnish dentures, dental appliances (II) by striking to be furnished by the Secretary under this section may be procured by the Secretary under this section and may procure such appliances (D) by striking section 2062. (2) Phased eligibility The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall apply as follows: (A) In the case of an individual who is eligible for dental services and appliances furnished by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under chapter 17 (B) In the case of a veteran who is not so eligible on the date of the enactment of this Act and who is described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of section 1705 of such title, beginning on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act. (C) In the case of a veteran who is not so eligible on the date of the enactment of this Act and who is described in paragraph (3) or (4) of subsection (a) of section 1705 of such title, beginning on the date that is two years after the date of the enactment of this Act. (D) In the case of a veteran who is not so eligible on the date of the enactment of this Act and who is described in paragraph (5) or (6) of subsection (a) of section 1705 of such title, beginning on the date that is three years after the date of the enactment of this Act. (E) In the case of a veteran who is not so eligible on the date of the enactment of this Act and who is described in paragraph (7) or (8) of subsection (a) of section 1705 of such title, beginning on the date that is four years after the date of the enactment of this Act. (b) Conforming amendments Section 1525(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking medicines under section 1712(d) medicines under section 1712(b) (c) Clerical amendments Such title is further amended— (1) in section 1712, in the heading for such section, by striking Dental care Appliances (2) in the table of sections at the beginning of chapter 17, by striking the item relating to section 1712 and inserting the following new item: 1712. Appliances; drugs and medicines for certain disabled veterans; vaccines. ; and (3) in the table of sections at the beginning of chapter 20, by striking the item relating to section 2062.

Summary: Dental Care for Veterans Act This bill expands eligibility for veterans for dental care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Specifically, the bill makes all veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system eligible for VA-provided dental services. Currently, only veterans who have a service-connected dental issue or meet other narrow criteria are eligible for certain dental services. The bill phases in eligibility over four years based upon existing eligibility, degree of service-connected disability or other disability, prisoner of war status, award of a Purple Heart, financial need, or VA health care eligibility.