Sec. 144. PILOT PROGRAM TO FURNISH DENTAL CARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO CERTAIN VETERANS DIAGNOSED WITH ISCHEMIC HEART DISEASE
1,400 words·~6 min read·
/statute-compilations/comps-18103/sec-144A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
## SEC. 144 PILOT PROGRAM TO FURNISH DENTAL CARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO CERTAIN VETERANS DIAGNOSED WITH ISCHEMIC HEART DISEASE **[**[38 U.S.C. 1712 note](/us/usc/t38/s1712)**]** ###
(a)In General Beginning not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a two-year pilot program (in this section referred to as the “pilot program”) under which the Secretary shall furnish covered care to covered veterans through means that include the use of community care. ###
(b)Locations ####
(1)In general The Secretary shall select not more than four States in which to carry out the pilot program. ####
(2)Selection criteria In selecting States under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall prioritize States in which— #####
(A)the Department of Veterans Affairs serves a high proportion, as determined by the Secretary, of veterans residing in rural or highly rural areas (as determined through the use of the Rural-Urban Commuting Areas coding system of the Department of Agriculture); #####
(B)dental clinics operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs currently utilize teledentistry; #####
(C)the Department of Veterans Affairs does not currently operate a dental clinic; or #####
(D)the Secretary determines a large percentage of veterans enrolled in the system of annual patient enrollment of the Department of Veterans Affairs established and operated under paragraphs
(1)or
(2)of section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code, visit emergency rooms for dental emergencies at high rates. ###
(c)Participation Limitation Participation in a pilot program established pursuant to this section shall be limited to a covered veteran who receives health care in a facility of the Department located in a State selected under subsection (b). ###
(d)Use of Certain Methods to Provide Care ####
(1)Mobile dental clinics In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary shall test the efficacy of mobile dental clinics to service rural areas that do not have a population base to warrant a full-time clinic but where there are covered veterans in need of dental care. ####
(2)Home-based dental care In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary shall test the efficacy of portable dental care units to service rural veterans in their homes, as the Secretary considers medically appropriate. ###
(e)Administration ####
(1)Community care network review #####
(A)In general Before commencing the pilot program, the Secretary shall work with third party administrators to conduct a review of dental providers who are part of the community care network of the Department in each State selected under subsection (b)(1) to ensure— ######
(i)dental providers who are no longer accepting patients from the Department— ######
(I)are not still listed as providers accepting referrals from the Department; and ######
(II)are not sent referrals from the Department; and ######
(ii)dental providers participating in each such network are capable of receiving an influx of patients from the Department under the pilot program. #####
(B)Expansion of network If, pursuant to a review under subparagraph (A), the Secretary determines the community care network in a State selected under subsection (b)(1) is not capable of receiving an influx of patients under the pilot program, the Secretary shall coordinate with the Third Party Administrator for such State to ensure the dental provider network of such community care network is sufficiently expanded before the initiation of the pilot program. ####
(2)Notice to covered veterans In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary shall inform all covered veterans in States selected under subsection (b)(1) of the covered care available under the pilot program. ####
(3)Loss of eligibility Any veteran participating in the pilot program who ceases to be a covered veteran shall be removed from the pilot program on the date that is 90 days after the Secretary determines the participant is no longer a covered veteran. ####
(4)Continuity of care #####
(A)In general Upon the termination of the pilot program, the Secretary shall provide to all veterans participating in the pilot program at the time of such termination— ######
(i)information on how to enroll in the dental insurance plan of the Department of Veterans Affairs under section 1712C of title 38, United States Code; ######
(ii)if appropriate, information on the VETSmile program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, or any successor program; and ######
(iii)contact information for dental providers in the surrounding community who provide low- or no-cost dental care and whom the Secretary has confirmed are available to take on new patients. #####
(B)Continuation of treatment plan Any veteran participating in the pilot program may continue to receive services under the pilot program after the termination of the pilot program to complete a treatment plan commenced under the pilot program, as determined necessary by the Secretary. ###
(f)Reports ####
(1)Annual report Not later than one year after the commencement of the pilot program, and annually thereafter for the duration of the pilot program, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report on the pilot program that includes— #####
(A)an identification of the States participating in the pilot program; #####
(B)a description of the implementation and operation of the pilot program; #####
(C)the number of participants in the pilot program, disaggregated by— ######
(i)State; and ######
(ii)disability rating; #####
(D)an identification of any barriers or challenges to implementing the pilot program; #####
(E)aggregated feedback from participants in the pilot program, including from interviews and surveys; #####
(F)the average annual cost of providing covered care to a participant in the pilot program, disaggregated by— ######
(i)State; ######
(ii)disability rating; and ######
(iii)whether the care was provided through the community care network or through a provider of the Department; #####
(G)an analysis of the communication and collaboration of the Department with Third Party Administrators and community care dental providers, disaggregated by State; #####
(H)an analysis of any cost savings by the Department with respect to the treatment of ischemic heart disease; #####
(I)an assessment of the impact of the pilot program on appointments for care, prescriptions, hospitalizations, emergency room visits, wellness, employability, satisfaction, and perceived quality of life of covered veterans related to their diagnosis of ischemic heart disease; #####
(J)an analysis and assessment of the efficacy of mobile clinics and portable dental care units, to the extent such modalities are used, to service the needs of covered veterans under the pilot program; #####
(K)an analysis and assessment of the usage of teledentistry to service the needs of covered veterans under the pilot program, to include a cost benefit analysis of such services; and #####
(L)such other matters as the Secretary considers appropriate. ####
(2)Final report Not later than 90 days before the completion of the pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report on the pilot program that— #####
(A)includes the matters required under paragraph (1); #####
(B)includes recommendations on whether the pilot program should be continued, expanded, or adopted throughout the Department; and #####
(C)indicates whether the Secretary requests action by Congress to make the pilot program permanent. ###
(g)Impact on Community Care Participants in the pilot program shall be able to access covered care in the community under section 1703 of title 38, United States Code. ###
(h)Definitions In this section: ####
(1)The term “covered care” means dental care that is consistent with the dental services and treatment furnished by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to veterans pursuant to section 1712(a)(1)(G) of title 38, United States Code. ####
(2)The term “covered veteran” means a veteran who— #####
(A)is enrolled in the system of annual patient enrollment of the Department established and operated under paragraphs
(1)or
(2)of section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code; #####
(B)is not eligible for dental services and treatment and related dental appliances under the laws administered by the Secretary as of the date of the enactment of this Act; and #####
(C)has a diagnosis of ischemic heart disease. ####
(3)The term “Third Party Administrator” has the meaning given such term in section 1703F of such title.
Connectionstraces to 1
Traces to 1 document
Citation graph
cites case law
Sec. 144
PILOT PROGRAM TO FURNISH DENTAL CARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO CERTAIN VETERANS DIAGNOSED WITH ISCHEMIC HEART DISEASE
Cites 1Cited by 0 across 0 sources