SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Veterans Early Treat-
ment for Chronic Ailment Resurgence through Examina-
tions Act of 2019’’ or the ‘‘VET CARE Act of 2019’’. 
SEC. 2. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY PRO-
VIDERS OF DENTAL CARE. 
Section 1712 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as 
subsections (e) and (f), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (c) the fol-
lowing new subsection (d): 
‘‘(d)(1) The Secretary may furnish, to a provider of 
dental care described in paragraph (2), administrative 
support (including information for the provider to share 
with veterans regarding the dental insurance plan under 
section 1712C of this title) related to dental care described 
in paragraph (2). 
‘‘(2) Dental care described in this paragraph is— 
‘‘(A) provided to a veteran; 
‘‘(B) not furnished under a law administered by 
the Secretary; and’’. 
SEC. 3. PILOT PROGRAM FOR THE PROVISION OF DENTAL 
CARE TO CERTAIN VETERANS. 
(a) PILOT PROGRAM.—The Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs shall carry out a pilot program to provide outpatient 
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dental services and treatment, and related dental appli-
ances, to eligible veterans enrolled under subsection (c)(3), 
at no cost to such veterans. Under the pilot program, the 
Secretary shall determine whether there is a correlation 
between veterans receiving such services and treatment, 
and the veterans suffering fewer complications of chronic 
ailments, thereby yielding a lower cost of care. 
(b) ELIGIBLE VETERAN DEFINED.—For purposes of 
this section, the term ‘‘eligible veteran’’ means a veteran 
who— 
(1) is enrolled in the system of annual patient 
enrollment under section 1705 of title 38, United 
States Code; 
(2) is not eligible for dental care under section 
1712 of title 38, United States Code; 
(3) the Secretary determines does not receive 
regular periodontal care; 
(4) is between 40 and 70 years of age; and 
(5) has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. 
(c) APPLICATION; EVALUATION; DISQUALIFICATION; 
ENROLLMENT; CATEGORIZATION.— 
(1) APPLICATION.—An eligible veteran may 
elect to apply for the pilot program. 
(2) EVALUATION; DISQUALIFICATION.—An eli-
gible veteran who applies for the pilot program shall 
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receive an initial periodontal evaluation, including 
vertical bitewing radiographs. Any eligible veteran 
diagnosed with periodontal disease that requires sur-
gery shall be disqualified from the pilot program. 
(3) ENROLLMENT; CATEGORIZATION.—The Sec-
retary shall enroll at least 1,500 eligible veterans 
who apply for the pilot program, giving preference to 
veterans with service-connected disabilities that in-
creases in accordance with the veterans’ disability 
ratings under chapter 11 of title 38, United States 
Code, in a manner that ensures the following: 
(A) One-third of eligible veterans enrolled 
in the pilot program shall have been diagnosed 
with no or mild periodontitis under paragraph 
(2). 
(B) Two-thirds of eligible veterans enrolled 
in the pilot program shall have been diagnosed 
with moderate to severe periodontitis under 
paragraph (2). 
(d) DURATION OF PROGRAM.—The Secretary shall 
carry out the pilot program during the four-year period 
beginning on the date that is 180 days after the effective 
date of this section. 
(e) LOCATIONS.—The pilot program shall be carried 
out in five facilities of the Veterans Health Administra-
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tion, with one such facility in each of five Veterans Inte-
grated Services Networks that the Secretary considers ap-
propriate for the pilot program. 
(f) PATIENT DISTRIBUTION.—Each facility shall 
serve not more than one-fourth and not fewer than one- 
sixth of the veterans enrolled in the pilot program, in ap-
proximately even proportions of veterans categorized 
under subsection (c)(3). 
(g) COURSE OF PROGRAM.— 
(1) PERIODONTAL
THERAPY.—The Secretary 
shall make timely and appropriate periodontal ther-
apy available to veterans described in subsection 
(c)(3)(B). 
(2) ELECTION OF TREATMENT.—Such veterans 
who elect to receive treatment shall be classified as 
‘‘treated’’. 
(3) ANNUAL EVALUATIONS.—Each treated vet-
eran shall receive an annual dental evaluation, dur-
ing which the periodontal health of the treated vet-
eran shall be reassessed and recorded exactly as at 
the initial evaluation under subsection (c)(2). 
(4) HEALTH OUTCOME REPORTING.—For the 
duration of the pilot program, the Secretary shall 
collect and record data regarding the health of treat-
ed veterans, including events, treatments, and out-
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comes, and make such data available for analysis by 
qualified researchers. 
(h) EDUCATION.— 
(1) HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS.—The Secretary 
shall provide standardized instructions to all physi-
cians and dentists who work in facilities described in 
subsection (e) to ensure consistent evaluation and 
care for veterans enrolled in the pilot program in all 
such facilities. 
(2) ENROLLED
VETERANS.—The Secretary 
shall provide each veteran enrolled in the pilot pro-
gram with an orientation, information before any 
care is provided under the pilot program, and an 
exit interview that includes information regarding 
how such veteran may obtain dental services and 
treatment after the end of the pilot program. 
(i) EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH.—The Secretary shall 
notify those institutions of higher education (as that term 
is defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002)) that offer degrees in periodontolo-
gy of the pilot program so that such institutions may en-
gage in similar studies regarding private periodontal care 
for veterans. 
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