To improve the provision of health care furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs for veterans diagnosed with diabetes and heart disease, and for other purposes.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · July 12, 2023
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 118-217.
This bill would establish a four-year pilot program at the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide comprehensive dental care to veterans diagnosed with diabetes or ischemic heart disease who are currently not eligible for VA dental services. The program would test different delivery methods including traditional dental clinics, mobile dental units for rural areas, home-based dental care, dental therapists, and telemedicine to determine the most effective ways to serve veterans with these chronic conditions. The bill also creates a loan repayment program offering up to $100,000 for dentists, $25,000 for dental hygienists, and $40,000 for oral surgeons who commit to working at VA facilities during the pilot program to ensure adequate dental workforce capacity. The VA would be required to submit reports before completion and within 180 days after the pilot program ends, analyzing costs, benefits, health outcomes, and recommendations for expanding dental care to all eligible veterans. The legislation authorizes necessary funding for fiscal year 2024 with availability extending eight years from implementation.
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