Bill Summary
This legislation, titled "A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish dental care in the same manner as any other medical service, and for other purposes," proposes to amend Title 38 of the United States Code to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide dental care to veterans in the same way as any other medical service. This includes changes to the eligibility requirements for dental services and appliances, as well as conforming amendments to other sections of the Code. The changes would be implemented in phases, with different effective dates for different categories of eligible veterans. Overall, this legislation aims to improve access to dental care for veterans and align it with the standard of care for medical services.
Possible Impacts
1. This legislation would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide dental care in the same manner as any other medical service. This could potentially benefit many veterans who may have previously struggled to receive adequate dental care.
2. The amendments made by this legislation would impact the eligibility of veterans for dental services and appliances. This could affect the ability of certain veterans to receive the necessary dental care they need.
3. This legislation would also make changes to the way dentures and dental appliances are procured by the Secretary. This could potentially streamline the process and make it easier for veterans to receive these necessary items.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 96 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 96
To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to furnish dental care in the same manner as any other
medical service, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 3, 2019
Ms. Brownley of California (for herself and Mr. DeFazio) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to furnish dental care in the same manner as any other
medical service, 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. REQUIREMENT THAT SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FURNISH
DENTAL CARE IN THE SAME MANNER AS ANY OTHER MEDICAL
SERVICE.
(a) Dental Benefits.--
(1) In general.--Title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(A) in section 1701(6), by striking ``as described
in sections 1710 and 1712 of this title'';
(B) in section 1710(c), by striking the second
sentence;
(C) in section 1712--
(i) by striking subsections (a) and (b);
(ii) by redesignating subsections (c), (d),
(e), and (f) as subsections (a), (b), (c), and
(d), respectively; and
(iii) in subsection (a), as redesignated by
subparagraph (B)--
(I) by striking ``Dental
appliances'' and inserting ``The
Secretary may furnish dentures, dental
appliances''; and
(II) by striking ``to be furnished
by the Secretary under this section may
be procured by the Secretary'' and
inserting ``under this section and may
procure such appliances''; and
(D) by striking section 2062.
(2) Phased eligibility.--The amendments made by paragraph
(1) shall apply as follows:
(A) In the case of an individual who is eligible
for dental services and appliances furnished by the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs under chapter 17 of title
38, United States Code, on the date of the enactment of
this Act, beginning on the date of the enactment of
this Act.
(B) In the case of a veteran who is not so eligible
on the date of the enactment of this Act and who is
described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of
section 1705 of such title, beginning on the date that
is one year after the date of the enactment of this
Act.
(C) In the case of a veteran who is not so eligible
on the date of the enactment of this Act and who is
described in paragraph (3) or (4) of subsection (a) of
section 1705 of such title, beginning on the date that
is two years after the date of the enactment of this
Act.
(D) In the case of a veteran who is not so eligible
on the date of the enactment of this Act and who is
described in paragraph (5) or (6) of subsection (a) of
section 1705 of such title, beginning on the date that
is three years after the date of the enactment of this
Act.
(E) In the case of a veteran who is not so eligible
on the date of the enactment of this Act and who is
described in paragraph (7) or (8) of subsection (a) of
section 1705 of such title, beginning on the date that
is four years after the date of the enactment of this
Act.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--Title 38, United States Code, is
further amended--
(1) in section 1525(a), by striking ``medicines under
section 1712(d)'' and inserting ``medicines under section
1712(b)''; and
(2) in section 1703(a)(7), by striking ``, for a veteran
described in section 1712(a)(1)(F) of this title''.
(c) Clerical Amendments.--Such title is further amended--
(1) in section 1712, in the heading for such section, by
striking ``Dental care'' and inserting ``Appliances'';
(2) in the table of sections at the beginning of chapter
17, by striking the item relating to section 1712 and inserting
the following new item:
``1712. Appliances; drugs and medicines for certain disabled veterans;
vaccines.'';
and
(3) in the table of sections at the beginning of chapter
20, by striking the item relating to section 2062.
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