Veterans Early Treatment for Chronic Ailment Resurgence through Examinations Act of 2023 or the VET CARE Act of 2023
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.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2410 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2410
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 30, 2023
Mr. Bilirakis (for himself, Mr. Levin, Mr. Van Drew, Mr. Ferguson, and
Mr. Waltz) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
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 2023'' or the ``VET CARE
Act of 2023''.
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.--
(1) Establishment.--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.
(2) Purpose.--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.
(3) Steering committee: establishment; duty; authority.--
The Secretary shall appoint a scientific steering committee to
ensure that results of clinical trials conducted under the
pilot program withstand the peer review process. To carry out
such duty, the steering committee--
(A) shall establish comprehensive ethical and
scientific protocols for clinical trials; and
(B) may alter the definition of ``eligible
veteran'' in subsection (b).
(b) Eligible Veteran Defined.--In this section, subject to
subsection (a)(3)(B), 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.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
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