VET CARE Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.6208 | Sponsor: Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. (R-FL)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Veterans Early Treatment for Chronic Ailment Resurgence through Examinations Act of 2021 or the VET CARE Act of 2021
This bill addresses dental care programs for veterans. Specifically, the bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish administrative support to a dental care provider that provides services to a veteran that would not be covered by VA benefits.
The bill also requires the VA to implement a pilot program to provide free outpatient dental services and treatment, and related dental appliances, to eligible veterans. Eligible veterans are those who are (1) enrolled in the VA health care system but are not eligible for VA dental care, (2) not receiving regular periodontal care, (3) between 40 and 70 years old, and (4) diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of 
  Veterans Affairs to provide administrative support to providers of 
  dental care who provide such care to veterans that is not furnished 
   under such title, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to 
 establish a pilot program for the provision of dental care to certain 
                   veterans, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Early Treatment for Chronic 
Ailment Resurgence through Examinations Act of 2021'' or the ``VET CARE 
Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY PROVIDERS 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 following 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 Affairs shall carry 
out a pilot program to provide outpatient dental services and 
treatment, and related dental appliances, 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 eligible veteran who 
        applies for the pilot program shall receive an initial 
        periodontal evaluation, including vertical bitewing 
        radiographs. Any eligible veteran diagnosed with periodontal 
        disease that requires surgery shall be disqualified from the 
        pilot program.
            (3) Enrollment; categorization.--The Secretary shall enroll 
        at least 1,500 eligible veterans who apply for the pilot 
        program, giving preference to veterans with service-connected 
        disabilities that increases 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 Administration, with one such 
facility in each of five Veterans Integrated Services Networks that the 
Secretary considers appropriate 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 approximately even proportions of veterans 
categorized under subsection (c)(3).
    (g) Course of Program.--
            (1) Periodontal therapy.--The Secretary shall make timely 
        and appropriate periodontal therapy 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 veteran shall receive 
        an annual dental evaluation, during which the periodontal 
        health of the treated veteran 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 treated veterans, including events, 
        treatments, and outcomes, and make such data available for 
        analysis by qualified researchers.
    (h) Education.--
            (1) Health care providers.--The Secretary shall provide 
        standardized instructions to all physicians 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 program 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 periodontology of the pilot program so that such 
institutions may engage in similar studies regarding private 
periodontal care for veterans.
    (j) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the conclusion of the 
pilot program, the Secretary shall submit a report of findings to the 
Congress.
    (k) Regulations.--The Secretary shall administer the pilot program 
under such regulations as the Secretary shall prescribe, including best 
practices regarding informed consent and study registration.
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