,,ii  #aac? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #aehf  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,octob] #bh1 #bjac,mr4 
,s&]s introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0    
read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on  
,vet]ans' ,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to am5d 
title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 to      
improve d5tal heal? c>e = vet]ans1 & =  
o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act
 may be cit$ z ! ,enhanc$ ,d5tal ,c>e = 
,vet]ans ,act ( #bjac4  #b4 ,re/orative 
d5tal s]vices = vet]ans ,section        
#agaj7;c7 ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates    
,code1 is am5d$-- 7#a7 9 ! second       
s5t5ce-- 7,a7 by r$esignat+ subp>agraphs
 7,a7 & 7,b7 z clauses 7i7 & 7ii71      
respectively2 &  7,b7 by r$esignat+     
p>agraphs 7#a7 & 7#b7 z subp>agraphs    
7,a7 & 7,b71 respectively2  7#b7 by     
ins]t+ 7#a7 aft] 7c72  7#c7 by /rik+ ,! 
,secret>y & ins]t+ ! foll[+3  7#b7 ,!   
,secret>y  2 &  7#d7 by add+ at ! end ! 
foll[+ new p>agraph3  7#c7 ,9 addition  
to ! d5tal s]vices1 treatm5t1 &         
appliances au?oriz$ to be furni%$ by    

p>agraph 7#b71 ! ,secret>y may furni%   
d5tal s]vices & treatm5t1 & d5tal       
appliances1 ne$$ to re/ore function+ 9 a
 vet]an t is lo/ z a result ( any       
s]vices or treatm5t furni%$ "u ?is      
subsection4  4  #c4 ,pilot program on   
expansion ( furni%+ ( d5tal c>e to all  
enroll$ vet]ans  7a7 ,pilot program     
requir$ ,comm5c+ n lat] ?an #ahj days   
aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !  
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all c>ry 
out a pilot program to assess !         
feasibility & advisability ( furni%+    
d5tal c>e to vet]ans enroll$ 9 ! sy/em (
 pati5t enrollm5t "u section #agje (    
title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 :o are n
 eligible = d5tal s]vices & treatm5t1 & 
relat$ d5tal appliances1 "u curr5t      
au?orities4  7b7 ,duration ( pilot      
program ,! pilot program %all be c>ri$  
out dur+ ! ?ree-ye> p]iod beg9n+ on !   
date ( ! comm5cem5t ( ! pilot program4  
7c7 ,locations  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,!        
,secret>y %all c>ry out ! pilot program 
at n few] ?an #af locations z foll[s3   

7,a7 ,f\r ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs 
m$ical c5t]s ) an e/abli%$ d5tal cl9ic4 
7,b7 ,f\r ,dep>tm5t m$ical c5t]s ) a    
curr5t contract = ! furni%+ ( d5tal c>e4
  7,c7 ,f\r ,community-,bas$ ,outpati5t 
,cl9ics 7,c,b,o,cs7 ) space available = 
! furni%+ ( s]vices & treatm5t "u !     
pilot program4  7,d7 ,f\r facilities    
select$ f among ,f$]ally ,qualifi$      
,heal? ,c5t]s 7,f,q,h,cs7 & ,indian     
,heal? ,s]vice facilities ) e/abli%$    
d5tal cl9ics1 ( :i*-- 7i7 at lea/ "o    
facility %all be su* an ,indian ,heal?  
,s]vice facility2 &  7ii7 any ,indian   
,heal? ,s]vice facility s select$ %all  
be select$ 9 consultation ) ! ,secret>y 
( ,heal? & ,human ,s]vices4  7#b7       
,consid]ations ,9 select+ locations = ! 
pilot program1 ! ,secret>y %all consid] 
! feasibility & advisability ( select+  
locations 9 ea* ( ! foll[+3 7,a7 ,rural 
areas4  7,b7 ,areas t are n 9 close     
proximity to an active duty milit>y     
in/allation4  7,c7 ,areas repres5t+     
diff]5t geographic locations1 su* z     

c5sus tracts e/abli%$ by ! ,bureau (    
,c5sus4  7d7 ,scope ( s]vices ,! d5tal  
s]vices & treatm5t furni%$ to vet]ans "u
 ! pilot program %all be consi/5t ) !   
d5tal s]vices & treatm5t furni%$ by !   
,secret>y to vet]ans ) s]vice-connect$  
disabilities rat$ #ajj p]c5t disabl+ "u 
! laws adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y4  7e7    
,volunt>y p>ticipation ,! p>ticipation (
 a vet]an 9 ! pilot program %all be at !
 election ( ! vet]an4  7f7 ,limitation  
on am\nt ( s]vices  7#a7 ,9 g5]al       
,except z provid$ 9 p>agraph 7#c71 !    
total am\nt ! ,secret>y may exp5d       
furni%+ d5tal s]vices & treatm5t to any 
vet]an p>ticipat+ 9 ! pilot program dur+
 any "o-ye> p]iod may n exce$ su* am\nt 
z ! ,secret>y det]m9es appropriate4 ,!  
am\nt s det]m9$ may n be less ?an       
#a1jjj4  7#b7 ,consultation ,! ,secret>y
 %all make ! det]m9ation "u p>agraph    
7#a7-- 7,a7 9 consultation ) ! ,director
 ( ! ,indian ,heal? ,s]vice2 &  7,b7 9  
consultation ) ! ,director ( ! ,c5t]s = 
,m$ic>e & ,m$icaid ,s]vices if "o or m  

,f$]ally ,qualifi$ ,heal? ,c5t]s is     
select$ z a location = ! pilot program  
"u subsection 7c77#a77;,d74  7#c7       
,s]vices 9 excess ( limitation am\nt ,! 
total am\nt exp5d$ by ! ,secret>y 9     
furni%+ d5tal s]vices & treatm5t to a   
p>ticul> vet]an p>ticipat+ 9 ! pilot    
program dur+ a "o-ye> p]iod may exce$ ! 
am\nt det]m9$ "u p>agraph 7#a7 if !     
,secret>y det]m9es1 be=e furni%+ su*    
s]vices & treatm5t1 bas$ on an          
exam9ation ( ! vet]an by a d5ti/        
p>ticipat+ 9 ! pilot program t ! furni%+
 ( su* s]vices & treatm5t is necess>y4  
,any det]m9ation "u ?is p>agraph %all be
 made on a case-by-case basis4  7g7     
,copaym5ts ,! ,secret>y may collect     
copaym5ts = d5tal s]vices & treatm5t    
furni%$ "u ! pilot program 9 accordance 
) au?orities on ! collection ( copaym5ts
 = m$ical c>e ( vet]ans "u *apt] #ag (  
title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  7h7    
,program adm9i/ration  7#a7 ,notice to  
cov]$ vet]ans on pilot program ,9 c>ry+ 
out ! pilot program1 ! ,secret>y %all   

in=m all vet]ans eligible to p>ticipate 
9 ! pilot program ( ! s]vices & treatm5t
 available "u ! pilot program4  7#b7    
,contracts ,9 c>ry+ out ! pilot program1
 ! ,secret>y may ent] into contracts )  
appropriate entities = ! provision (    
d5tal s]vices & treatm5t "u ! pilot     
program4 ,ea* su* contract %all specify 
p]=mance /&>ds & metrics & processes =  
ensur+ compliance ( ! contractor conc]n$
 ) su* p]=mance /&>ds4  7i7 ,reports    
7#a7 ,prelim9>y reports  7,a7 ,9 g5]al  
,n lat] ?an ea* ( "o ye> & ?ree ye>s    
aft] ! date ( ! comm5cem5t ( ! pilot    
program1 ! ,secret>y %all submit to !   
,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !    
,s5ate & ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'      
,affairs ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives a  
report on ! pilot program4  7,b7        
,cont5ts ,ea* report "u subp>agraph 7,a7
 %all include ! foll[+3 7i7 ,a          
description ( ! implem5tation & op]ation
 ( ! pilot program4  7ii7 ,! numb] (    
vet]ans receiv+ s]vices & treatm5t "u ! 
pilot program1 & a description ( ! d5tal

 s]vices & treatm5t furni%$ to su*      
vet]ans4  7iii7 ,an analysis ( ! co/s & 
b5efits ( ! pilot program1 includ+ a    
comp>ison ( co/s & b5efits by location  
type4  7iv7 ,! curr5t f9d+s &           
conclusions ( ! ,secret>y ) respect to !
 pilot program4  7v7 ,su* recomm5dations
 = ! cont9uation or expansion ( ! pilot 
program z ! ,secret>y consid]s          
appropriate4  7#b7 ,f9al report  7,a7 ,9
 g5]al ,n lat] ?an #ahj days aft] !     
completion ( ! pilot program1 !         
,secret>y %all submit to ! ,committee on
 ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( ! ,s5ate & !      
,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !    
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives a report on !   
pilot program4  7,b7 ,cont5ts ,! report 
"u subp>agraph 7,a7 %all include !      
foll[+3 7i7 ,! f9d+s & conclusions ( !  
,secret>y ) respect to ! pilot program4 
7ii7 ,su* recomm5dations = ! cont9uation
 or expansion ( ! pilot program z !     
,secret>y consid]s appropriate4  #d4    
,program on education to promote d5tal  
heal? 9 vet]ans  7a7 ,program requir$   

7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans   
,affairs %all c>ry out a program (      
education to promote d5tal heal? =      
vet]ans :o are enroll$ 9 ! sy/em (      
pati5t enrollm5t ( ! ,dep>tm5t (        
,vet]ans ,affairs "u section #agje (    
title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  7#b7   
,con/ruction ,no?+ 9 ! program %all be  
deem$ to alt] or revise ! eligibility ( 
any vet]an = d5tal c>e "u ! laws        
adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y4  7b7 ,elem5ts  
,! program requir$ by subsection 7a7    
%all provide education = vet]ans on !   
foll[+3 7#a7 ,! association betwe5 d5tal
 heal? & ov]all heal? & well-be+4  7#b7 
,prop] te*niques = d5tal c>e4  7#c7     
,signs & symptoms ( commonly occurr+    
d5tal issues1 includ+ c>ies4  7#d7      
,treatm5t options = commonly occurr+    
d5tal issues4  7#e7 ,options = obta9+   
access to d5tal c>e1 includ+ in=mation  
on eligibility = d5tal c>e ?r\gh !      
,dep>tm5t & on pur*as+ private d5tal    
insurance4  7#f7 ,options = obta9+ l[ or
 no-co/ d5tal c>e1 includ+ ?r\gh d5tal  

s*ools & ,f$]ally ,qualifi$ ,heal?      
,c5t]s4  7#g7 ,su* o!r matt]s relat+ to 
d5tal heal? z ! ,secret>y consid]s      
appropriate4  7c7 ,deliv]y ( educational
 mat]ials  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y   
%all provide educational mat]ials to    
vet]ans "u ! program requir$ by         
subsection 7a7 ?r\gh a v>iety (         
me*anisms1 includ+ ! foll[+3 7,a7 ,!    
availability & di/ribution ( pr9t       
mat]ials at ,dep>tm5t facilities1       
includ+ m$ical c5t]s1 cl9ics1 ,vet      
,c5t]s1 & readju/m5t c\nsel+ c5t]s4     
7,b7 ,! availability & di/ribution (    
mat]ials ov] ! ,int]net1 includ+ ?r\gh  
web9>s & ,my ,healthe,vet4  7,c7        
,pres5tations ( in=mation1 includ+ bo?  
small gr\p & l>ge gr\p pres5tations4    
7#b7 ,selection ( me*anisms ,9 select+  
me*anisms = purposes ( ?is subsection1 !
 ,secret>y %all select me*anisms design$
 to maximize ! numb] ( vet]ans :o       
receive education "u ! program4  #e4    
,in=mation on d5tal s]vices = inclusion 
9 electronic m$ical records "u d5tal    

insurance pilot program  7a7 ,9 g5]al   
,comm5c+ n lat] ?an #ahj days aft] !    
date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !         
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all exp& 
! d5tal insurance pilot program e/abli%$
 by section #ag4afi ( title #ch1 ,code (
 ,f$]al ,regulations1 to e/abli% a      
me*anism by :i* private sector d5tal c>e
 provid]s may =w>d to ! ,dep>tm5t (     
,vet]ans ,affairs in=mation on d5tal c>e
 furni%$ to individuals "u ! pilot      
program = inclusion 9 ! electronic      
m$ical records ( ! ,dep>tm5t ) respect  
to su* individuals4  7b7 ,con/ruction ) 
curr5t pilot program requirem5ts  7#a7  
,9 g5]al ,no?+ 9 ?is section %all be    
con/ru$ to revise eligibility =         
p>ticipation 91 or ! locations (1 !     
pilot program ref]r$ to 9 subsection    
7a74  7#b7 ,duration ,! ,secret>y may   
cont9ue ! pilot program = two ye>s 9    
addition to ! duration o!rwise provid$ =
 ! pilot program 9 section #ag4afi (    
title #ch1 ,code ( ,f$]al ,regulations1 
if ! ,secret>y det]m9es t ! cont9uation 

is ne$$ to assess ! me*anism requir$ by 
subsection 7a74  7#c7 ,volunt>y         
p>ticipation 9 me*anism ,! p>ticipation 
9 ! me*anism requir$ by subsection 7a7 (
 an individual o!rwise p>ticipat+ 9 !   
pilot program %all be at ! election ( ! 
individual4  7c7 ,inclusion ( in=mation 
on me*anism 9 reports ,ea* report to    
,congress on ! pilot program aft] ! date
 ( ! comm5cem5t ( ! me*anism requir$ by 
subsection 7a7 %all include in=mation on
 ! me*anism1 includ+ a curr5t assessm5t 
( ! feasibility & advisability ( us+ !  
me*anism to include in=mation on d5tal  
c>e furni%$ to individuals 9 !          
electronic m$ical records ( ! ,dep>tm5t 
) respect to su* individuals4