Legislation Reintroduced to Provide Dental Care to All Veterans
Rep. Julia Brownley (D-CA) reintroduced the Dental Care for Veterans Act (H.R.914) on February 12. The bill would eliminate the current statutory eligibility restrictions for VA dental care and expand eligibility for VA dental care to all veterans enrolled in the system.
Dental and oral health care services provided by the VA are currently limited to a small population of eligible veterans. Those who are eligible often have a service-connected dental condition or disability or a dental condition that impacts the treatment of another medical condition.
The VA has reported that approximately 534,000 out of 8.83 million VA enrollees receive VA dental care. The VA also offers the option to purchase dental care to certain veterans through VA’s Dental Insurance Program (VADIP), which provides coverage to an estimated 614,000 veterans.
Impact on General Dentistry: The AGD supports policies to improve our nation’s veterans’ access to quality oral health care services. Additional information regarding VA’s capability and readiness to provide comprehensive oral health services to all veterans would help determine what solutions are best suited to ensuring veterans are receiving quality oral health care.
Dental and oral health care services provided by the VA are currently limited to a small population of eligible veterans. Those who are eligible often have a service-connected dental condition or disability or a dental condition that impacts the treatment of another medical condition.
The VA has reported that approximately 534,000 out of 8.83 million VA enrollees receive VA dental care. The VA also offers the option to purchase dental care to certain veterans through VA’s Dental Insurance Program (VADIP), which provides coverage to an estimated 614,000 veterans.
Impact on General Dentistry: The AGD supports policies to improve our nation’s veterans’ access to quality oral health care services. Additional information regarding VA’s capability and readiness to provide comprehensive oral health services to all veterans would help determine what solutions are best suited to ensuring veterans are receiving quality oral health care.