,i  #aai? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4
 ,r4 #ajdai  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(         
,,repres5tatives  ,septemb] #af1        
#bjbf,mr4 ,b]gman 7= himself1 ,mr4      
,davis ( ,nor? ,c>ol9a1 ,mr4 ,van ,drew1
 ,mr4 ,gold5 ( ,ma9e1 ,ms4 ,k+-,h9ds1 & 
,mr4 ,murphy7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2  
:i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on         
,vet]ans' ,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to      
direct ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs  
to e/abli% a pilot program to improve   
access to & aw>5ess ( community-bas$    
d5tal s]vices = vet]ans resid+ 9 rural  
areas1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort     
title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z !         
,support+ ,mobile & ,integrat$ ,local   
,exam9ations = ,vet]ans ,act or !       
,,smile = ,vet]ans ,act4  #b4 ,rural    
vet]ans d5tal access pilot program  7a7 
,e/abli%m5t  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an  
"o ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is   
,act1 ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs   
%all e/abli% a pilot program to improve 
access to d5tal s]vices = eligible      
vet]ans resid+ 9 rural areas by--  7,a7 

furni%+ basic1 prev5tive1 re/orative1 & 
urg5t d5tal s]vices ?r\gh reimbursem5ts1
 contracts1 or o!r agreem5ts )          
community-bas$ provid]s t (f] d5tal     
s]vices1 includ+ mobile d5tal s]vices & 
no-co/ d5ti/ry day2 &  7,b7 conduct+    
outrea* to in=m su* vet]ans ( !         
availability ( su* s]vices4  7#b7       
,locations ,! ,secret>y %all c>ry out ! 
pilot program 9 n few] ?an t5 locations 
9 rural areas locat$ 9 n few] ?an five  
,/ates4  7b7 ,eligibility  7#a7 ,9 g5]al
 ,= purposes ( ! pilot program1 an      
eligible vet]an is a vet]an :o is       
enroll$ 9 ! pati5t enrollm5t sy/em ( !  
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs "u section
 #agje ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1
 resides 9 a rural area1 &--  7,a7 is n 
o!rwise eligible = d5tal c>e & s]vices  
furni%$ by ! ,dep>tm5t "u section #agab 
( su* title2 or  7,b7 is eligible =     
d5tal c>e "u section #agab ( su* title1 
b is unable to access su* c>e ?r\gh !   
,dep>tm5t or ! ,community ,c>e ,network 
)9 ! access /&>ds e/abli%$ "u section   

#agjc7;d7 ( su* title4  7#b7 ,homeless  
vet]ans ,9 ! case ( a vet]an :o is      
homeless1 z def9$ 9 section #bjjb ( su* 
title1 ! ,secret>y-- 7,a7 may waive !   
requirem5t "u ?is p>agraph t ! vet]an be
 enroll$ 9 ! pati5t enrollm5t sy/em "u  
section #agje ( su* title2  7,b7 may    
deem su* vet]an to satisfy ! resid5cy   
requirem5t "u ?is p>agraph if ! vet]an  
is receiv+ s]vices 91 or 0 la/ kn[n to  
reside 91 a rural area2 &  7,c7 %all    
e/abli% proc$ures to p]mit eligibility =
 s]vices "u ! pilot program bas$ on     
alt]native =ms ( v]ification1 includ+   
docum5tation ( p>ticipation 9 a program 
adm9i/]$ by ! ,dep>tm5t1 ano!r ,f$]al   
ag5cy1 a ,/ate or local ag5cy1 or       
community p>tn] s]v+ homeless vet]ans4  
7c7  ,community-,bas$ d5tal provid]s  ,9
 c>ry+ out ! pilot program e/abli%$ "u  
subsection 7a71 ! ,secret>y %all id5tify
 community-bas$ entities describ$ 9     
p>agraph 7#a7 t provide d5tal s]vices 9 
rural areas & t are will+ to provide su*
 s]vices1 subject to reimbursem5ts1     

contracts1 or o!r agreem5ts ) !         
,dep>tm5t1 to vet]ans resid+ 9 su*      
areas1 & p>ticipate 9 outrea* ef=ts to  
in=m su* vet]ans ( ! availability ( su* 
s]vices4  7#a7  ,entities includ$       
,community-bas$ entities describ$ 9 ?is 
p>agraph include-- 7,a7 nonpr(it        
organizations t provide d5tal s]vices2  
7,b7 ,f$]ally ,qualifi$ ,heal? ,c5t]s1  
includ+ ,community ,heal? ,c5t]s2  7,c7 
,rural ,heal? ,cl9ics2  7,d7 ,critical  
,access ,hospitals2  7,e7 d5tal s*ools  
or in/itutions ( high] education ) d5tal
 education programs2  7,f7 mobile d5tal 
cl9ics or mobile heal? programs t       
include d5tal s]vices2  7,g7 private    
d5tal practices2 &  7,h7 o!r            
community-bas$ organizations t provide  
d5tal s]vices to und]s]v$ populations4  
7#b7  ,priority  ,9 select+ among       
community-bas$ entities describ$ 9      
p>agraph 7#a71 ! ,secret>y %all1 to !   
ext5t practicable1 prioritize p>tn]%ips 
) entities t h demon/rat$ capacity to   
provide d5tal s]vices 9 rural areas1    

includ+--  7,a7 mobile d5tal cl9ics &   
o!r mobile heal? programs t include     
d5tal s]vices 9 areas :]e p]man5t d5tal 
infra/ructure is limit$2 &  7,b7        
provid]s ) demon/rat$ community rea* or 
! ability to deliv] portable1           
community-bas$ d5tal s]vices 9 rural    
sett+s1 includ+ ?r\gh c>e deliv]y models
 t d n require a p]man5t d5tal facility4
  7#c7  ,p>ticipation crit]ia  ,!       
,secret>y %all e/abli% p>ticipation     
crit]ia = provid]s "u ! pilot program1  
includ+ crit]ia relat+ to lic5sure1     
demon/rat$ capacity to s]ve rural areas1
 data report+1 & quality assurance4     
7#d7  ,rule ( con/ruction  ,no?+ 9 ?is  
section may be con/ru$ to-- 7,a7 require
 an entity p>ticipat+ 9 ! pilot program 
to p>ticipate 9 ! ,vet]ans ,community   
,c>e ,program e/abli%$ "u section #agjc 
( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code2 or    
7,b7 prohibit an entity t p>ticipates 9 
su* program f also p>ticipat+ 9 ! pilot 
program or f cont9u+ to furni% c>e to   
vet]ans o!rwise eligible = heal? c>e    

furni%$ "u ! ,vet]ans ,community ,c>e   
,program ?r\gh exi/+ pa?ways :ile s]v+  
eligible vet]ans "u ?is pilot program4  
7d7 ,provid] directory ,! ,secret>y %all
 ma9ta9 & update1 n less ?an annually1 a
 publicly available directory (         
community-bas$ d5tal provid]s id5tifi$  
"u ?is section t are will+ to provide   
d5tal s]vices to vet]ans & p>ticipate 9 
outrea* ef=ts "u ! pilot program4  7e7  
,cov]$ s]vices & reimbursem5t  7#a7     
,cov]$ s]vices ,! pilot program e/abli%$
 "u subsection 7a7 %all include         
outpati5t d5tal s]vices furni%$ to an   
eligible vet]an t are necess>y to       
evaluate1 diagnose1 prev5t1 or treat    
d5tal disease1 infection1 or pa91       
includ+--  7,a7 oral exam9ations &      
evaluations2  7,b7 diagno/ic imag+1     
includ+ ,x-rays2  7,c7 tee? clean+s &   
o!r prev5tive d5tal s]vices2  7,d7 d5tal
 fill+s2  7,e7 urg5t d5tal s]vices to   
relieve pa91 treat infection1 or        
/abilize an oral condition2  7,f7 basic 
extractions2  7,g7 complete & p>tial    

d5tures requir$ foll[+ extractions cov]$
 "u ! pilot program1 & prep>atory       
s]vices furni%$ to abutm5t tee? 9       
support ( d5ture placem5t1 includ+-- 7i7
 scal+ & root plan+2  7ii7 endodontic   
treatm5t2 &  7iii7 d5tal cr[ns2  7,h7   
nonsurgical p]iodontal s]vices2 &  7,i7 
o!r outpati5t d5tal s]vices z !         
,secret>y det]m9es appropriate to       
include z cov]$ s]vices "u ! pilot      
program4  7#b7 ,non-cov]$ s]vices ,an   
entity p>ticipat+ 9 ! pilot program may 
furni% to an eligible vet]an additional 
m$ically necess>y outpati5t d5tal       
s]vices t are n designat$ z cov]$       
s]vices "u p>agraph 7#a71 provid$ t !   
entity complies ) ! bill+ requirem5ts "u
 p>agraph 7#c77;,c77ii74 ,s]vices       
furni%$ "u ?is p>agraph may n include   
cosmetic or o!r elective d5tal          
proc$ures4  7#c7 ,reimbursem5t ,!       
,secret>y %all e/abli% reimbursem5t     
rates = cov]$ d5tal s]vices "u p>agraph 
7#a7 furni%$ by community-bas$ d5tal    
provid]s to eligible vet]ans "u ! pilot 

program4  7,a7 ,rate me?odology ,9      
e/abli%+ reimbursem5t rates1 ! ,secret>y
 %all1 to ! ext5t practicable1 ensure t 
su* rates d n exce$ ! rates paid =      
comp>able s]vices "u d5tal plans (f]$   
?r\gh ! ,f$]al ,employees ,d5tal &      
,vision ,insurance ,program "u *apt]    
#hi;,a ( title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4 
7,b7 ,t]ms & conditions ,! ,secret>y    
%all e/abli% t]ms & conditions = su*    
reimbursem5ts1 contracts1 or o!r        
agreem5ts1 includ+--  7i7 quality /&>ds2
  7ii7 report+ requirem5ts2 &  7iii7    
proc$ures = ! susp5sion1 modification1  
or t]m9ation ( p>ticipation = failure to
 meet program requirem5ts4  7,c7 ,bill+ 
,z a condition ( p>ticipation 9 ! pilot 
program1 an entity %all--  7i7 agree to 
accept1 z paym5t 9 full = cov]$ d5tal   
s]vices furni%$ "u ! pilot program1 !   
reimbursem5t rate e/abli%$ by !         
,secret>y & n to bill or o!rwise seek   
paym5t f a vet]an = any am\nt 9 excess (
 su* rate1 except z au?oriz$ by !       
,secret>y2 &  7ii7 9 ! case ( d5tal     

s]vices n cov]$ "u ! pilot program1 may 
*>ge a vet]an = su* s]vices only if--   
7,i7 ! vet]an elects to receive su*     
s]vices2 &  7,,ii7 ! entity provides !  
vet]an1 9 advance ( furni%+ su* s]vices1
 ) a cle> & und]/&able disclosure ( !   
co/ ( su* s]vices & obta9s ! vet]an's   
cons5t to receive & pay = su* s]vices4  
7,d7 ,process+ ,! ,secret>y %all process
 clean claims submitt$ by p>ticipat+    
provid]s n lat] ?an #cj days aft] ! date
 ( submission4  7f7 ,outrea* &          
coord9ation ,! ,secret>y %all use       
communication & outrea* me*anisms ( !   
,dep>tm5t to in=m vet]ans resid+ 9 rural
 areas ab\t d5tal s]vices available     
?r\gh provid]s p>ticipat+ 9 ! pilot     
program & to facilitate access = vet]ans
 to su* s]vices4  7#a7 ,outrea*         
activities ,outrea* & coord9ation       
activities "u ?is subsection may        
include-- 7,a7 dissem9ation ( in=mation 
?r\gh ,dep>tm5t m$ical c5t]s &          
community-bas$ outpati5t cl9ics2  7,b7  
communication ?r\gh ! ,dep>tm5t's       

websites & digital plat=ms2  7,c7       
coord9ation ) /ate & c\nty vet]ans      
s]vice (fic]s2  7,d7 coord9ation )      
p>ticipat+ provid]s to in=m vet]ans (   
available s]vices & to assi/ vet]ans 9  
locat+ & access+ su* provid]s2 &  7,e7  
o!r outrea* me*anisms z deem$           
appropriate by ! ,secret>y4  7#b7       
,connection ,! ,secret>y %all e/abli%   
me*anisms to facilitate vet]ans' access 
to p>ticipat+ community d5tal provid]s &
 to support c>e coord9ation1 :i* may    
include-- 7,a7 enabl+ ,dep>tm5t         
cl9icians & c>e coord9ators to connect  
vet]ans ) p>ticipat+ community d5tal    
provid]s2 &  7,b7 designat+1 at ea*     
location 9 :i* ! pilot program is c>ri$ 
out1 an employee ( ! ,dep>tm5t1 z       
det]m9$ by ! director ( ! m$ical c5t] or
 community-bas$ outpati5t cl9ic ( !     
,dep>tm5t ) responsibility = su*        
location1 to s]ve z ! po9t ( contact = !
 pilot program1 responsible =-- 7i7     
coord9at+ eligibility det]m9ations "u ! 
pilot program1 includ+ eligibility      

det]m9ations = homeless vet]ans "u      
subsection 7b77#b72  7ii7 coord9at+ )   
p>ticipat+ community-bas$ d5tal         
provid]s2 &  7iii7 assi/+ eligible      
vet]ans 9 access+ s]vices "u ! pilot    
program4  7#c7 ,vet]ans o!rwise eligible
 = dep>tm5t d5tal c>e ,9 c>ry+ out      
activities "u ?is subsection1 !         
,secret>y %all ensure t outrea*         
activities include in=mation = vet]ans  
already eligible = d5tal c>e & s]vices  
furni%$ by ! ,dep>tm5t "u section #agab 
( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 reg>d+
 h[ to access su* c>e1 includ+ ?r\gh !  
,community ,c>e ,network or o!r         
,dep>tm5t programs4  7g7 ,au?orization (
 appropriations  7#a7 ,e/abli%m5t ,!re  
are au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ to !     
,secret>y #e1jjj1jjj = fiscal ye> #bjbg 
to /& up ! pilot program "u ?is section4
  7#b7 ,execution ,!re are au?oriz$ to  
be appropriat$ to ! ,secret>y           
#bj1jjj1jjj = ea* ( ! fiscal ye>s #bjbh 
?r\gh #bjcj to c>ry out ! pilot program 
"u ?is section4  7h7 ,duration2 annual  

review ,! au?ority ( ! ,secret>y to c>ry
 out ! pilot program "u ?is section %all
 t]m9ate at ! end ( ! #c-ye> p]iod      
foll[+ ! date on :i* ! program is       
e/abli%$4 ,dur+ su* p]iod1 ! ,secret>y  
%all1 on an annual basis1 review !      
effectiv5ess ( su* pilot program to     
det]m9e ! pot5tial ( su* pilot program =
 cont9uation or expansion4  #c4 ,work+  
gr\p on rural vet]an d5tal access  7a7  
,e/abli%m5t ,! ,secret>y %all e/abli% an
 int]nal work+ gr\p )9 ! ,dep>tm5t to   
evaluate d5tal c>e access *all5ges fac$ 
by vet]ans resid+ 9 rural areas4  7b7   
,memb]%ip ,! work+ gr\p %all include    
repres5tatives f--  7#a7 ! ,vet]ans     
,heal? ,adm9i/ration2  7#b7 ! ,(fice (  
,rural ,heal? ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans  
,affairs2  7#c7 o!r relevant (fices ( ! 
,dep>tm5t1 z det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y2 &  
7#d7 repres5tatives ( community-bas$    
d5tal provid]s1 nonpr(it organizations1 
& o!r entities ) exp]i5ce provid+ mobile
 or community-bas$ d5tal s]vices1 z     
appropriate4  7c7 ,duties ,! work+ gr\p 

%all-- 7#a7 assess ! availability (     
d5tal s]vices = vet]ans resid+ 9 rural  
areas2  7#b7 id5tify exi/+ mobile or    
community-bas$ d5tal programs s]v+ su*  
areas2  7#c7 evaluate b>ri]s t vet]ans  
face 9 access+ d5tal s]vices ?r\gh      
community provid]s2  7#d7 id5tify       
opportunities = improv$ coord9ation     
betwe5 ! ,dep>tm5t & community d5tal    
provid]s2  7#e7 id5tify be/ practices = 
outrea*1 provid] coord9ation1 mobile    
s]vice deliv]y1 & ! use ( reimbursem5ts1
 contracts1 or o!r agreem5ts "u ! pilot 
program e/abli%$ "u section #b2 &  7#f7 
assess b>ri]s to access+ d5tal b5efits  
fac$ by vet]ans resid+ 9 rural areas :o 
are o!rwise eligible = d5tal c>e &      
s]vices furni%$ by ! ,dep>tm5t "u       
section #agab ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates
 ,code4  7d7 ,recomm5dations ,n lat] ?an
 #ah mon?s aft] ! date on :i* ! work+   
gr\p is e/abli%$1 ! work+ gr\p %all     
submit to ! ,secret>y a summ>y ( its    
f9d+s "u subsection 7c74 ,! ,secret>y   
%all consid] su* f9d+s 9 c>ry+ out !    

pilot program "u section #b & %all      
address 9 ! report requir$ "u section #d
 any actions tak5 9 response to su*     
f9d+s4  #d4 ,report to congress  7a7    
,report ,n lat] ?an ?ree ye>s aft] !    
e/abli%m5t ( ! pilot program "u section 
#b1 ! ,secret>y %all submit to !        
,committees on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !   
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives & ! ,s5ate a    
report on ! pilot t includes-- 7#a7 a   
description ( ! community-bas$ provid]s 
id5tifi$ "u su* section2  7#b7 an       
assessm5t ( ! effectiv5ess ( outrea*    
ef=ts conduct$ "u su* section2  7#c7    
recomm5dations = improv+ coord9ation    
betwe5 ! ,dep>tm5t & community-bas$     
d5tal provid]s2  7#d7 an assessm5t ( !  
ext5t to :i* reimbursem5ts1 contracts1  
or o!r agreem5ts ent]$ into "u section  
#b7;d7 exp&$ access to d5tal s]vices "u 
! pilot program1 includ+-- 7,a7 ! numb] 
( vet]ans :o receiv$ d5tal s]vices "u   
su* reimbursem5ts1 contracts1 or o!r    
agreem5ts2  7,b7 ! types ( d5tal s]vices
 furni%$ pursuant to su* reimbursem5ts1 

contracts1 or o!r agreem5ts2  7,c7 !    
geographic areas 9 :i* d5tal s]vices 7  
furni%$ pursuant to su* reimbursem5ts1  
contracts1 or o!r agreem5ts2 &  7,d7 !  
total co/s ( c>ry+ out su*              
reimbursem5ts1 contracts1 or o!r        
agreem5ts1 includ+ relat$ outrea* &     
in=mation dissem9ation activities2  7#e7
 an assessm5t ( d5tal access *all5ges   
fac$ by vet]ans 9 ! pilot areas :o are  
eligible = d5tal b5efits "u section     
#agab ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 
includ+ ! ext5t to :i* su* vet]ans face 
b>ri]s to access+ ^? b5efits1 & any     
recomm5dations to address su* *all5ges2 
&  7#f7 a description ( ! f9d+s &       
recomm5dations submitt$ by ! work+ gr\p 
"u section #c & any actions tak5 by !   
,secret>y 9 response to su* f9d+s to    
modify or improve ! pilot program4  #e4 
,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act3  7#a7 ,! t]m   
no-co/ d5ti/ry day means a s*$ul$ ev5t  
at :i* "o or m community-bas$ d5tal     
provid]s furni% d5tal s]vices to vet]ans
 at no *>ge to su* vet]ans4  7#b7 ,! t]m

 rural area means a c5sus tract t has n 
be5 assign$ a ,rural-,urban ,commut+    
,area code ( #a4j1 #a4a1 #b4j1 #b4a1 or 
#c4j z det]m9$ "u ! cod+ sy/em ma9ta9$  
by ! ,economic ,rese>* ,s]vice ( !      
,dep>tm5t ( ,agriculture & ! ,heal?     
,res\rces & ,s]vices ,adm9i/ration ( !  
,dep>tm5t ( ,heal? & ,human ,s]vices4   
7#c7 ,! t]m ,/ate has ! mean+ giv5 t t]m
 9 section #aja7bj7 ( title #ch1 ,unit$ 
,/ates ,code4