[114th Congress Public Law 218]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



[[Page 841]]

 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS DENTAL INSURANCE REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 
                                  2016

[[Page 130 STAT. 842]]

Public Law 114-218
114th Congress

                                 An Act


 
  To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide a dental insurance 
plan to veterans and survivors and dependents of veterans. <<NOTE: July 
                        29, 2016 -  [S. 3055]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Department of 
Veterans Affairs Dental Insurance Reauthorization Act of 2016. 38 USC 
101 note.>> 
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. <<NOTE: 38 USC 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) <<NOTE: Contracts.>>  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

[[Page 130 STAT. 843]]

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. <<NOTE: Notification.>>  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) <<NOTE: Effective date. Time period.>>  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) <<NOTE: Procedures. Determinations.>>  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 <<NOTE: 38 USC prec. 
        1701.>>  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.--

[[Page 130 STAT. 844]]

            (1) <<NOTE: Repeal.>>  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.

    Approved July 29, 2016.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 3055:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 162 (2016):
            July 13, considered and passed Senate.
            July 14, considered and passed House.

                                  <all>