[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.

                          ____________________