U.S. House Rep. Tony Gonzales has introduced the Rural Veterans Dental Act to improve dental care access for veterans, according to a Nov. 13 news release from Mr. Gonzales’ office.
Here are five things to know:
- The legislation would create a pilot program to provide dental services to veterans living in rural areas through mobile delivery methods.
- Dental vans with full diagnostic and treatment equipment, modular or containerized mobile dental clinics at VA community-based outpatient clinics or rural health fairs and temporary tents or structures at outreach events would be included in the program.
- The act prioritizes providing services to locations that are more than 75 miles from a VA dental clinic.
- The pilot program would end Sept. 30, 2029, at which point it could turn into a permanent program.
- About 33% of the 8.3 million veterans enrolled in the Veterans Health Administration reside in rural communities.
