,,ii  #aae? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,s4 #ccac  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,july #ca1 #bjah ,mr4  
,s&]s introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0    
read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on  
,vet]ans' ,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to      
improve d5tal c>e provid$ to vet]ans by 
! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 & = o!r
 purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title  ,?is ,act  
may be cit$ z ! ,vet]ans ,d5tal ,c>e    
,eligibility ,expansion & ,enhancem5t   
,act ( #bjah4  #b4 ,re/orative d5tal    
s]vices = vet]ans  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,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  7b7 ,effective date ,!  
am5dm5ts made by subsection 7a7 %all    
take effect on ! date t is "o ye> aft] !
 date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act4  #c4     
,expansion ( d5tal s]vices = vet]ans    
expos$ to toxic sub/ances1 radiation1 or
 o!r conditions ,section #agab7;a77#a7 (
 title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is     
am5d$-- 7#a7 by r$esignat+ subp>agraphs 
7,g7 & 7,h7 z subp>agraphs 7,h7 & 7,i71 
respectively2 &  7#b7 by ins]t+ aft]    
subp>agraph 7,f7 ! foll[+ new           
subp>agraph 7,g73  7,g7 f :i* a vet]an  
entitl$ to hospital c>e & m$ical s]vices
 "u section #agaj7;a77#b77;,f7 is       
suff]+2  4  #d4 ,pilot program on       
expansion ( furni%+ ( d5tal s]vices &   
treatm5t to all enroll$ vet]ans  7a7    
,pilot program requir$ ,comm5c+ n lat]  

?an #edj days aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t (
 ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans       
,affairs %all c>ry out a pilot program  
to assess ! feasibility & advisability (
 furni%+ d5tal s]vices & treatm5t to    
vet]ans enroll$ 9 ! sy/em ( pati5t      
enrollm5t ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans      
,affairs "u section #agje ( title #ch1  
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 :o are n eligible =
 d5tal s]vices & treatm5t1 & relat$     
d5tal appliances1 f ! ,dep>tm5t "u      
au?orities o!r ?an ?is section4  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   
m$ical c5t]s ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans   
,affairs ) an e/abli%$ d5tal cl9ic4     
7,b7 ,f\r m$ical c5t]s ( ! ,dep>tm5t ) a
 contract = ! furni%+ ( d5tal c>e4  7,c7
 ,f\r community-bas$ outpati5t cl9ics ) 
space available = ! furni%+ ( s]vices & 

treatm5t "u ! pilot program4  7,d7 ,f\r 
facilities select$ f among              
,f$]ally-qualifi$ heal? c5t]s &         
facilities ( ! ,indian ,heal? ,s]vice ) 
e/abli%$ d5tal cl9ics1 ( :i*--  7i7 at  
lea/ "o facility %all be su* a facility 
( ! ,indian ,heal? ,s]vice2 &  7ii7 any 
facility ( ! ,indian ,heal? ,s]vice 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           
,limitation on numb] ( p>ticipat+       
vet]ans  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! total numb] ( 
vet]ans :o may p>ticipate 9 ! pilot     
program may n exce$ #ajj1jjj4  7#b7     
,di/ribution ( limitation ,9 apply+ !   

limitation 9 p>agraph 7#a7 to ! pilot   
program1 ! ,secret>y %all di/ribute !   
limitation across & among locations     
select$ = ! pilot program 9 a mann] t   
takes appropriate acc\nt ( ! size & ne$ 
( vet]ans = d5tal s]vices at ea* su*    
location4  7e7 ,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  7f7    
,volunt>y p>ticipation ,! p>ticipation (
 a vet]an 9 ! pilot program %all be at !
 election ( ! vet]an4  7g7 ,copaym5ts   
7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,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  7#b7   
,limitation ,! am\nts ( copaym5ts       
au?oriz$ "u p>agraph 7#a7 may n exce$ ! 
am\nts all[$ = m$ical c>e "u su* *apt]4 

7h7 ,program adm9i/ration  7#a7 ,notice 
to eligible 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  7,a7 ,9 g5]al
 ,9 c>ry+ out ! pilot program1 !        
,secret>y may ent] into contracts )     
appropriate entities = ! provision (    
d5tal s]vices & treatm5t "u ! pilot     
program4  7,b7 ,p]=mance /&>ds & metrics
 ,ea* contract ent]$ into "u subp>agraph
 7,a7 %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* (
 #edj days & ?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 ,an assessm5t ( ! impact ( !
 pilot program on m$ical c>e1 wellness1 
employability1 & p]ceiv$ quality ( life 
( vet]ans4  7v7 ,! curr5t f9d+s &       
conclusions ( ! ,secret>y ) respect to !
 pilot program4  7vi7 ,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  7j7    
,f$]ally-,qualifi$ heal? c5t] def9$ ,9  
?is section ! t]m ,f$]ally-qualifi$     
heal? c5t] has ! mean+ giv5 t t]m 9     
section #aije7l77#b77;,b7 ( ! ,social   
,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4           
#acif;d7l77#b77;,b774  7k7 ,effective   
date ,?is section %all take effect on ! 
date t is "o ye> aft] ! date ( !        
enactm5t ( ?is ,act4  #e4 ,con/ruction  
or lease ( d5tal cl9ics ( ,dep>tm5t (   
,vet]ans ,affairs  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,!      
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all      
con/ruct or lease a d5tal cl9ic ( !     
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs 9 any     
,/ate t does n h a facility ( !         
,dep>tm5t t (f]s onsite d5tal s]vices4  
7b7 ,submittal ( plan ,n lat] ?an #ahj  

days aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is     
,act1 ! ,secret>y %all submit to        
,congress a plan = con/ruction or lease 
( a d5tal cl9ic 9 ea* ( ! ,/ates        
describ$ 9 subsection 7a7 & %all beg9n+ 
con/ruction ( any su* cl9ic indicat$ =  
con/ruction 9 su* plan n lat] ?an "o ye>
 aft] su* date ( enactm5t4  7c7         
,appropriation ( am\nts ,!re is au?oriz$
 to be appropriat$ & is appropriat$ to !
 ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs          
#aj1jjj1jjj to c>ry out ?is section1 :i*
 %all be available until exp5d$4  7d7   
,facility ( ! ,dep>tm5t def9$ ,9 ?is    
section1 ! t]m facility ( ! ,dep>tm5t   
has ! mean+ giv5 ! t]m facilities ( !   
,dep>tm5t 9 section #agja ( title #ch1  
,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  7e7 ,em]g5cy      
designation  7#a7 ,/atutory paygo ,?is  
section is designat$ z an em]g5cy       
requirem5t pursuant to section #d7;g7 ( 
! ,/atutory ,pay-,z-,y-,g ,act ( #bjaj  
7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #icc7;g774  7#b7 ,s5ate   
designation ,9 ! ,s5ate1 ?is section is 
designat$ z an em]g5cy requirem5t       

pursuant to section #daab7;a7 ( ,h4     
,con4 ,res4 #ga 7#aae? ,congress71 !    
concurr5t resolution on ! budget =      
fiscal ye> #bjah4  #f4 ,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 conditions4  7#d7        
,treatm5t options = commonly occurr+    
d5tal issues4  7#e7 ,options = obta9+   

access to d5tal c>e1 includ+ in=mation  
on--  7,a7 eligibility = d5tal c>e ?r\gh
 ! ,dep>tm5t2  7,b7 options available   
?r\gh ,/ate & local gov]nm5ts or        
nonpr(it organizations2 &  7,c7 pur*as+ 
private d5tal insurance4  7#f7          
,available & accessible 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 facilities ( ! ,dep>tm5t    
7includ+ at m$ical c5t]s1 cl9ics1 ,vet  
,c5t]s1 & readju/m5t c\nsel+ c5t]s7 & to
 provid]s 7includ+ memb]s ( pati5t      
align$ c>e teams74  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  7#c7 ,inclusion
 ( mat]ials = bl9d & visually impair$ ,!
 ,secret>y %all ensure t educational    
mat]ials are available "u ?is subsection
 9 a =mat = ! bl9d & visually impair$4  
7d7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is section3 7#a7    
,f$]ally-qualifi$ heal? c5t] def9$ ,!   
t]m ,f$]ally-qualifi$ heal? c5t] has !  
mean+ giv5 t t]m 9 section              
#aije7l77#b77;,b7 ( ! ,social ,security 
,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4                     
#acif;d7l77#b77;,b774  7#b7 ,vet ,c5t]  
,! t]m ,vet ,c5t] has ! mean+ giv5 t t]m
 9 section #agab;,a7h7 ( title #ch1     
,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  7e7 ,effective    
date ,?is section %all take effect on ! 
date t is "o ye> aft] ! date ( !        
enactm5t ( ?is ,act4  #g4 ,in=mation on 

d5tal s]vices = inclusion 9 electronic  
m$ical records "u d5tal insurance pilot 
program  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,comm5c+ n lat]   
?an #edj days aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t (
 ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans       
,affairs %all exp& ! d5tal insurance    
pilot program e/abli%$ by section       
#ag4afi ( title #ch1 ,code ( ,f$]al     
,regulations 7z 9 effect on ! date ( !  
enactm5t ( ?is ,act71 to e/abli% a      
me*anism by :i* private sector d5tal c>e
 provid]s %all =w>d to ! ,dep>tm5t (    
,vet]ans ,affairs in=mation on d5tal c>e
 furni%$ 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 ,regulations  
7z 9 effect on ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is
 ,act71 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  7d7      
,effective date ,?is section %all take  
effect on ! date t is "o ye> aft] ! date
 ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act4  #h4          

,demon/ration program on tra9+ &        
employm5t ( alt]native d5tal heal? c>e  
provid]s = d5tal heal? c>e s]vices =    
vet]ans 9 rural & o!r und]s]v$          
communities  7a7 ,demon/ration program  
au?oriz$ ,! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans        
,affairs may c>ry out a demon/ration    
program to e/abli% programs to tra9 &   
employ alt]native d5tal heal? c>e       
provid]s 9 ord] to increase access to   
d5tal heal? c>e s]vices = vet]ans :o are
 entitl$ to su* s]vices f ! ,dep>tm5t ( 
,vet]ans ,affairs & reside 9 rural & o!r
 und]s]v$ communities4  7b7 ,priority ,!
 ,secret>y %all give priority =         
p>ticipation 9 ! demon/ration program "u
 ?is section to m$ical c5t]s or heal?   
sy/ems ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs
 9 ,/ates ) a te*nical college )9 !     
,/ate college sy/em ( t ,/ate t has     
e/abli%$ a degree or c]tificate level   
program = ! tra9+ ( alt]native d5tal    
heal? c>e provid]s4  7c7 ,teleheal? ,=  
purposes ( alt]native d5tal heal? c>e   
provid]s & o!r d5tal c>e provid]s :o are

 lic5s$ to provide cl9ical c>e1 d5tal   
s]vices provid$ "u ! demon/ration       
program "u ?is section may be adm9i/]$  
by su* provid]s ?r\gh teleheal?-enabl$  
collaboration & sup]vision :5           
appropriate & feasible4  7d7 ,alt]native
 d5tal heal? c>e provid]s def9$ ,9 ?is  
section1 ! t]m alt]native d5tal heal?   
c>e provid]s has ! mean+ giv5 t t]m 9   
section #cdj;,g-#a7;a77#b7 ( ! ,public  
,heal? ,s]vice ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4      
#bef;g-#a7;a77#b774  #i4 ,au?orization (
 appropriations  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,!re is   
au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ = ! ,dep>tm5t
 ( ,vet]ans ,affairs = fiscal ye> #bjbj 
#ejj1jjj1jjj to c>ry out ?is ,act & !   
am5dm5ts made by ?is ,act1 o!r ?an      
section #d4  7b7 ,availability ,! am\nt 
au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ "u subsection
 7a7 %all be available = obligation = ! 
five-ye> p]iod beg9n+ on ! date t is "o 
ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act4