“To establish a pilot program to furnish dental care to veterans who reside in rural and highly rural areas.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section establishes a pilot program, to begin on October 1, 2026, and terminate on September 30, 2029, under which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs furnishes dental care to veterans residing in rural and highly rural areas (as determined by the VA Office of Rural Health). To implement the program, the Secretary may use mobile methods including vans equipped with full diagnostic and treatment dental equipment, modular or containerized mobile dental clinics at VA community-based outpatient clinics or rural health fairs, and tents or other temporary structures at VA outreach events; locations are prioritized if more than 75 miles from a VA dental clinic, with high concentrations of veterans having unmet dental needs, or in rural and highly rural areas with large veteran populations. Not later than September 30 of 2027, 2028, and 2029, the Secretary must submit reports to the congressional Committees on Veterans’ Affairs detailing the number of veterans served, locations used, costs by implementation method, and recommendations on improving or making the program permanent.