[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 102 (Tuesday, June 19, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S4056]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2995. Mr. SANDERS submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 2910 proposed by Mr. Shelby to the bill H.R. 5895, 
making appropriations for energy and water development and related 
agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and for other 
purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of title II of division C, add the following:

     SEC. 2__. DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM ON FURNISHING DENTAL HEALTH 
                   CARE SERVICES FOR VETERANS IN RURAL AND OTHER 
                   UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
     carry out a demonstration program to assess the feasibility 
     and advisability of furnishing dental health care services, 
     including through the use of alternative dental health care 
     providers, to increase access to such services for eligible 
     veterans who reside in rural and other underserved 
     communities.
       (b) Locations.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out the 
     demonstration program in not more than four rural States, as 
     determined by the Secretary.
       (2) Priority.--The Secretary shall prioritize the 
     establishment of programs under the demonstration program 
     under this section in States that do not have a facility of 
     the Department of Veterans Affairs that offers on-site dental 
     services.
       (c) Eligible Veterans.--A veteran is eligible for dental 
     health care services under the demonstration program under 
     this section if--
       (1) the veteran is entitled to dental health care services 
     from the Department; or
       (2) the veteran is enrolled in the system of patient 
     enrollment of the Department under section 1705 of title 38, 
     United States Code, but is not eligible for dental health 
     care services from the Department under authorities other 
     than this section.
       (d) Telehealth.--For purposes of alternative dental health 
     care providers and other dental care providers who are 
     licensed to provide clinical care, dental services provided 
     under the demonstration program under this section may be 
     administered by such providers through telehealth-enabled 
     collaboration and supervision when appropriate and feasible.
       (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the 
     demonstration program under this section $20,000,000.
       (f) Alternative Dental Health Care Providers Defined.--In 
     this section, the term ``alternative dental health care 
     providers'' has the meaning given that term in section 340G-
     1(a)(2) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 256g-
     1(a)(2)).
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