US Codex
Pub. L.
Notes

Title VII — Other Matters

115th Congress · Approved Dec 31, 2018 · 132 Stat. 5368

TITLE VII Other Matters

SEC. 701. Homeless Veterans Reintegration Programs.

Section 2021(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
by striking “ reintegration of homeless veterans into the labor force.” and inserting the following: “ reintegration into the labor force of—”; and
(2)
by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:

“(1) homeless veterans (including veterans who were homeless but found housing during the 60-day period preceding the date on which the veteran begins to participate in a program under this section);

“(2) veterans participating in the Department of Veterans Affairs supported housing program for which rental assistance is provided pursuant to section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)) or the Tribal HUD–VA Supportive Housing (Tribal HUD–VASH) program;

“(3) Indians who are veterans and receiving assistance under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4101 et seq.);

“(4) veterans described in section 2023(e) of this title or any other veterans who are transitioning from being incarcerated; and

“(5) veterans participating in the Department of Veterans Affairs rapid rehousing and prevention program authorized in section 2044 of this title.”

SEC. 702. Technical Corrections.

(a)
Title 38.— Title 38, United States Code, is amended as follows:
(1)
In the table of sections at the beginning of chapter 55, by inserting a period at the end of the item relating to section 5501A.
(2)
In section 7463(c)(2)(B), by striking “ to answer to answer” and inserting “ to answer”.
(b)
Veterans’ Benefits Improvements Act of 1996.— Section 504 of the Veterans’ Benefits Improvements Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–275; 38 U.S.C. 5101 note) is amended by redesignating the second subsection (c) as subsection (d).

SEC. 703. Medical Surgical Prime Vendor Program.

(a)
Vendors.— In procuring certain medical, surgical, and dental supplies or laboratory supplies for medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out the Medical Surgical Prime Vendor program, or successor program, in a manner that—
(1)
requires the Secretary to award contracts to multiple regional prime vendors instead of a single nationwide prime vendor; and
(2)
prohibits a prime vendor from solely designing the formulary of such supplies.
(b)
Clinically Driven Sourcing.—
(1)
Expertise.— In carrying out the formulary of supplies under the Medical Surgical Prime Vendor program, or successor program, the Secretary shall ensure that each employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs who conducts formulary analyses or makes decisions with respect to including items on the formulary has medical expertise relevant to the items for which the employee conducts such analyses or makes such decisions.
(2)
Lists.— Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every six months thereafter with respect to any updates, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a list of each employee described in paragraph (1) and the relevant medical expertise of the employee, listed by the categories of items in the formulary described in such paragraph.

SEC. 704. Report on Expanding Access to Dental Care for Veterans Eligible for Health Care from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

(a)
In General.— Not later than 360 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the feasibility and advisability of expanding access to dental care for eligible veterans.
(b)
Elements.— The report required by subsection (a) shall include the following:
(1)
An analysis of access to dental care for eligible veterans outside of the Department, including—
(A)
the percentage of eligible veterans currently enrolled in dental insurance through a third-party payer, including—
(i)
the dental insurance plan for veterans and survivors and dependents of veterans under section 1712C of title 38, United States Code;
(ii)
the Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.); and
(iii)
employer-sponsored dental insurance;
(B)
the affordability of dental insurance described in subparagraph (A); and
(C)
the comprehensiveness of benefits of dental insurance described in subparagraph (A).
(2)
An analysis of the current oral health needs of eligible veterans, including an estimate of the number of eligible veterans who—
(A)
experience untreated cavities or decay;
(B)
require dentures, implants, or other restorative dental services; or
(C)
have not received regular dental cleanings within the two-year period preceding the report.
(3)
An analysis of the financial impact to the Department of Veterans Affairs of providing dental care to eligible veterans, including—
(A)
whether the provision of such services would result in a reduction in total health care costs;
(B)
a cost-benefit analysis that indicates potential cost savings to the Department over a 5-, 10-, and 20-year period; and
(C)
projected cost savings to the Department and across the broader health care system.
(4)
An analysis of the number and types of dental providers necessary to treat eligible veterans, including—
(A)
dentists;
(B)
hygienists;
(C)
dental technicians; and
(D)
dental therapists.
(c)
Categories of Eligible Veterans.— The report required by subsection (a) shall be disaggregated by each of the following categories of eligible veterans:
(1)
Veterans enrolled in the system of annual patient enrollment of the Department pursuant to the priority group under subsection (a)(6) of section 1705 of such title.
(2)
Veterans enrolled in such system pursuant to the priority group under subsection (a)(5) of such section.
(3)
Veterans enrolled in such system pursuant to a priority group under any of subsections (a)(1) through (a)(4) of such section.
(4)
Veterans enrolled in such system pursuant to a priority group under subsection (a)(7) or (a)(8) of such section.
(d)
Eligible Veterans Defined.— In this section, the term “eligible veterans” means veterans enrolled in the system of annual patient enrollment of the Department of Veterans Affairs established and operated under section 1705 of title 38, United States Code.