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.

Bill: 115-hr-4556
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Shea-Porter, Carol [D-NH-1]
Introduced: 2017-12-05
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Dental care

Health care coverage and access

Veterans' medical care
Latest action: action_date: 2017-12-05
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-12-05
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><STRONG></STRONG> This bill makes all veterans enrolled in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system eligible for VA-provided dental services by removing certain dental service restrictions. </p> <p>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.</p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4556 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 5, 2017 Ms. Shea-Porter introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL 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. 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 and inserting The Secretary may furnish dentures, dental appliances ; and (II) by striking to be furnished by the Secretary under this section may be procured by the Secretary and inserting under this section and may procure such appliances ; and (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 of title 38, United States Code, on the date of the enactment of this Act, beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act. (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 Title 38, United States Code, is further amended— (1) in section 1525(a), by striking medicines under section 1712(d) and inserting medicines under section 1712(b) ; and (2) in section 1703(a)(7), by striking , for a veteran described in section 1712(a)(1)(F) of this title . (c) Clerical amendments Such title is further amended— (1) in section 1712, in the heading for such section, by striking Dental care and inserting 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.