[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 113 (Wednesday, July 13, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5035-S5036]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS DENTAL INSURANCE REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF
2016
Mr. BLUNT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee
on Veterans' Affairs be discharged from further consideration of S.
3055 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
[[Page S5036]]
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The clerk will report the bill by title.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 3055) to amend title 38, United States Code, to
provide a dental insurance plan to veterans and survivors and
dependents of veterans.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
Mr. BLUNT. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time
and passed, and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid
upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The bill (S. 3055) was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading,
was read the third time, and passed, as follows:
S. 3055
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Department of Veterans
Affairs Dental Insurance Reauthorization Act of 2016''.
SEC. 2. DENTAL INSURANCE PLAN FOR VETERANS AND SURVIVORS AND
DEPENDENTS OF VETERANS.
(a) Dental Insurance Plan.--
(1) In general.--Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by inserting after section
1712B the following new section:
``Sec. 1712C. Dental insurance plan for veterans and
survivors and dependents of veterans
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish and
administer a dental insurance plan for veterans and survivors
and dependents of veterans described in subsection (b).
``(b) Covered Veterans and Survivors and Dependents.--The
veterans and survivors and dependents of veterans described
in this subsection are as follows:
``(1) Any veteran who is enrolled in the system of annual
patient enrollment under section 1705 of this title.
``(2) Any survivor or dependent of a veteran who is
eligible for medical care under section 1781 of this title.
``(c) Administration.--The Secretary shall contract with a
dental insurer to administer the dental insurance plan under
this section.
``(d) Benefits.--The dental insurance plan under this
section shall provide such benefits for dental care and
treatment as the Secretary considers appropriate for the
dental insurance plan, including diagnostic services,
preventative services, endodontics and other restorative
services, surgical services, and emergency services.
``(e) Enrollment.--(1) Enrollment in the dental insurance
plan under this section shall be voluntary.
``(2) Enrollment in the dental insurance plan shall be for
such minimum period as the Secretary shall prescribe for
purposes of this section.
``(f) Premiums.--(1) Premiums for coverage under the dental
insurance plan under this section shall be in such amount or
amounts as the Secretary shall prescribe to cover all costs
associated with carrying out this section.
``(2) The Secretary shall adjust the premiums payable under
this section for coverage under the dental insurance plan on
an annual basis. Each individual covered by the dental
insurance plan at the time of such an adjustment shall be
notified of the amount and effective date of such adjustment.
``(3) Each individual covered by the dental insurance plan
shall pay the entire premium for coverage under the dental
insurance plan, in addition to the full cost of any
copayments.
``(g) Voluntary Disenrollment.--(1) With respect to
enrollment in the dental insurance plan under this section,
the Secretary shall--
``(A) permit the voluntary disenrollment of an individual
in the dental insurance plan if the disenrollment occurs
during the 30-day period beginning on the date of the
enrollment of the individual in the dental insurance plan;
and
``(B) permit the voluntary disenrollment of an individual
in the dental insurance plan for such circumstances as the
Secretary shall prescribe for purposes of this subsection,
but only to the extent such disenrollment does not jeopardize
the fiscal integrity of the dental insurance plan.
``(2) The circumstances prescribed under paragraph (1)(B)
shall include the following:
``(A) If an individual enrolled in the dental insurance
plan relocates to a location outside the jurisdiction of the
dental insurance plan that prevents use of the benefits under
the dental insurance plan.
``(B) If an individual enrolled in the dental insurance
plan is prevented by a serious medical condition from being
able to obtain benefits under the dental insurance plan.
``(C) Such other circumstances as the Secretary shall
prescribe for purposes of this subsection.
``(3) The Secretary shall establish procedures for
determinations on the permissibility of voluntary
disenrollments under paragraph (1)(B). Such procedures shall
ensure timely determinations on the permissibility of such
disenrollments.
``(h) Relationship to Dental Care Provided by Secretary.--
Nothing in this section shall affect the responsibility of
the Secretary to provide dental care under section 1712 of
this title, and the participation of an individual in the
dental insurance plan under this section shall not affect the
entitlement of the individual to outpatient dental services
and treatment, and related dental appliances, under such
section 1712.
``(i) Regulations.--The dental insurance plan under this
section shall be administered under such regulations as the
Secretary shall prescribe.
``(j) Termination.--This section terminates on December 31,
2021.''.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of chapter 17 of such title is amended by inserting
after the item relating to section 1712B the following new
item:
``1712C. Dental insurance plan for veterans and survivors and
dependents of veterans.''.
(b) Conforming Repeal.--
(1) In general.--Section 510 of the Caregivers and Veterans
Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-163; 38
U.S.C. 1712 note) is repealed.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of contents for the
Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010
is amended by striking the item relating to section 510.
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