S.Amdt. 3028

SA 3028. 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) Use of Amounts.--Of the amounts made available to the
Veterans Health Administration in this title, $20,000,000
shall be made available to the Secretary to carry out the
demonstration program under this section.
(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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