I 
113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5022 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve dental health care for 
veterans, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 8, 2014 
Mr. VARGAS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve dental 
health care for veterans, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Enhanced Dental Care 
for Veterans Act of 2014’’. 
SEC. 2. RESTORATIVE DENTAL SERVICES FOR VETERANS. 
Section 1710(c) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in the second sentence— 
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(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) 
and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively; and 
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and 
(2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively; 
(2) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘(c)’’; 
(3) by striking ‘‘The Secretary’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(2) The Secretary’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(3) In addition to the dental services, treatment, 
and appliances authorized to be furnished by paragraph 
(2), the Secretary may furnish dental services and treat-
ment, and dental appliances, needed to restore functioning 
in a veteran that is lost as a result of any services or treat-
ment furnished under this subsection.’’. 
SEC. 3. PILOT PROGRAM ON EXPANSION OF FURNISHING 
OF DENTAL CARE TO ALL ENROLLED VET-
ERANS. 
(a) PILOT PROGRAM REQUIRED.—Commencing not 
later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out 
a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability 
of furnishing dental care to veterans enrolled in the system 
of patient enrollment under section 1705 of title 38, 
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United States Code, who are not eligible for dental serv-
ices and treatment, and related dental appliances, under 
current authorities. 
(b) DURATION OF PILOT PROGRAM.—The pilot pro-
gram shall be carried out during the three-year period be-
ginning on the date of the commencement of the pilot pro-
gram. 
(c) LOCATIONS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry 
out the pilot program at not fewer than 16 locations 
as follows: 
(A) Four Department of Veterans Affairs 
medical centers with an established dental clin-
ic. 
(B) Four Department medical centers with 
a current contract for the furnishing of dental 
care. 
(C) Four Community-Based Outpatient 
Clinics (CBOCs) with space available for the 
furnishing of services and treatment under the 
pilot program. 
(D) Four facilities selected from among 
Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) 
and Indian Health Service facilities with estab-
lished dental clinics, of which— 
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(i) at least one facility shall be such 
an Indian Health Service facility; and 
(ii) any Indian Health Service facility 
so selected shall be selected in consultation 
with the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services. 
(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In selecting locations 
for the pilot program, the Secretary shall consider 
the feasibility and advisability of selecting locations 
in each of the following: 
(A) Rural areas. 
(B) Areas that are not in close proximity 
to an active duty military installation. 
(C) Areas representing different geo-
graphic locations, such as census tracts estab-
lished by the Bureau of Census. 
(d) SCOPE OF SERVICES.—The dental services and 
treatment furnished to veterans under the pilot program 
shall be consistent with the dental services and treatment 
furnished by the Secretary to veterans with service-con-
nected disabilities rated 100 percent disabling under the 
laws administered by the Secretary. 
(e) VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION.—The participation 
of a veteran in the pilot program shall be at the election 
of the veteran. 
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(f) LIMITATION ON AMOUNT OF SERVICES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (3), the total amount the Secretary may ex-
pend furnishing dental services and treatment to any 
veteran participating in the pilot program during 
any one-year period may not exceed such amount as 
the Secretary determines appropriate. The amount 
so determined may not be less than $1,000. 
(2) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall make 
the determination under paragraph (1)— 
(A) in consultation with the Director of the 
Indian Health Service; and 
(B) in consultation with the Director of 
the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 
if one or more Federally Qualified Health Cen-
ters is selected as a location for the pilot pro-
gram under subsection (c)(1)(D). 
(3) SERVICES
IN
EXCESS
OF
LIMITATION 
AMOUNT.—The total amount expended by the Sec-
retary in furnishing dental services and treatment to 
a particular veteran participating in the pilot pro-
gram during a one-year period may exceed the 
amount determined under paragraph (1) if the Sec-
retary determines, before furnishing such services 
and treatment, based on an examination of the vet-
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eran by a dentist participating in the pilot program 
that the furnishing of such services and treatment is 
necessary. Any determination under this paragraph 
shall be made on a case-by-case basis. 
(g) COPAYMENTS.—The Secretary may collect copay-
ments for dental services and treatment furnished under 
the pilot program in accordance with authorities on the 
collection of copayments for medical care of veterans 
under chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code. 
(h) PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION.— 
(1) NOTICE TO COVERED VETERANS ON PILOT 
PROGRAM.—In carrying out the pilot program, the 
Secretary shall inform all veterans eligible to partici-
pate in the pilot program of the services and treat-
ment available under the pilot program. 
(2) CONTRACTS.—In carrying out the pilot pro-
gram, the Secretary may enter into contracts with 
appropriate entities for the provision of dental serv-
ices and treatment under the pilot program. Each 
such contract shall specify performance standards 
and metrics and processes for ensuring compliance 
of the contractor concerned with such performance 
standards. 
(i) REPORTS.— 
(1) PRELIMINARY REPORTS.— 
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(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than each of 
one year and three years after the date of the 
commencement of the pilot program, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the Committee on Vet-
erans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee 
on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Represent-
atives a report on the pilot program. 
(B) CONTENTS.—Each report under sub-
paragraph (A) shall include the following: 
(i) A description of the implementa-
tion and operation of the pilot program. 
(ii) The number of veterans receiving 
services and treatment under the pilot pro-
gram, and a description of the dental serv-
ices and treatment furnished to such vet-
erans. 
(iii) An analysis of the costs and bene-
fits of the pilot program, including a com-
parison of costs and benefits by location 
type. 
(iv) The current findings and conclu-
sions of the Secretary with respect to the 
pilot program. 
(v) Such recommendations for the 
continuation or expansion of the pilot pro-
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gram as the Secretary considers appro-
priate. 
(2) FINAL REPORT.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 
days after the completion of the pilot program, 
the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Com-
mittee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of 
Representatives a report on the pilot program. 
(B) CONTENTS.—The report under sub-
paragraph (A) shall include the following: 
(i) The findings and conclusions of 
the Secretary with respect to the pilot pro-
gram. 
(ii) Such recommendations for the 
continuation or expansion of the pilot pro-
gram as the Secretary considers appro-
priate. 
SEC. 4. PROGRAM ON EDUCATION TO PROMOTE DENTAL 
HEALTH IN VETERANS. 
(a) PROGRAM REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall carry out a program of education to 
promote dental health for veterans who are enrolled 
in the system of patient enrollment of the Depart-
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ment of Veterans Affairs under section 1705 of title 
38, United States Code. 
(2) CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in the program 
shall be deemed to alter or revise the eligibility of 
any veteran for dental care under the laws adminis-
tered by the Secretary. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The program required by sub-
section (a) shall provide education for veterans on the fol-
lowing: 
(1) The association between dental health and 
overall health and well-being. 
(2) Proper techniques for dental care. 
(3) Signs and symptoms of commonly occurring 
dental issues, including caries. 
(4) Treatment options for commonly occurring 
dental issues. 
(5) Options for obtaining access to dental care, 
including information on eligibility for dental care 
through the Department and on purchasing private 
dental insurance. 
(6) Options for obtaining low or no-cost dental 
care, including through dental schools and Federally 
Qualified Health Centers. 
(7) Such other matters relating to dental health 
as the Secretary considers appropriate. 
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