The American Dental Association is supporting legislation that would expand access to dental care for veterans enrolled in the Department of Veterans Affairs, or VA, health care system while emphasizing the need for adequate funding, staffing and infrastructure to support the expansion.  

In a Nov. 9 letter to Rep. Julia Brownley, D-Calif., the ADA expressed its support for H.R. 210, the Dental Care for Veterans Act, which would remove existing statutory restrictions on eligibility for VA dental care and direct the department to provide dental services in the same manner as other medical services.  

The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs considered H.R. 210 during a legislative hearing May 20. The bill has not yet advanced out of committee. 

“We appreciate your continued leadership in advancing veterans’ oral health and your recognition that oral health is an integral component of overall health and well-being,” the ADA said in the letter.  

Under current law, VA dental benefits are generally limited to veterans who meet specific eligibility criteria. H.R. 210 represents a significant expansion of veterans’ dental eligibility and would ultimately extend VA dental care to veterans enrolled in the VA health care system, eliminating the narrower statutory eligibility requirements that currently apply. The expansion would be phased in over four years based on the department’s health care enrollment priority groups.  

According to the letter, the legislation would maintain eligibility for veterans who already qualify for VA dental services and appliances and then expand eligibility to veterans in priority groups 1 and 2 after one year, groups 3 and 4 after two years, groups 5 and 6 after three years, and groups 7 and 8 after four years.  

“This structure would preserve continuity for currently eligible veterans while allowing VA and Congress time to prepare for each stage of the expansion,” the ADA said.  

While supporting the legislation, the ADA urged Congress and the VA to ensure that the expansion is accompanied by sufficient resources to meet increased demand for dental services.  

The Association cited a September report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office that identified existing staffing challenges within the VA dental system. According to the report, lead dentists from all 18 Veterans Integrated Service Networks in place when GAO collected its information said facilities lacked the staffing levels needed to meet current demand. Lead dentists from 17 of the 18 networks also reported that VA dental staff or community care providers would face significant challenges meeting increased demand if dental eligibility were expanded to all veterans with ischemic heart disease.  

In light of those findings, the ADA called for dedicated funding for VA dentistry, continued investment in the dental workforce and facilities, and sufficient administrative and Community Care capacity to accommodate newly eligible veterans.  

The Association also emphasized the importance of the Veterans Community Care Program, through which eligible veterans may receive VA-authorized care from community providers, including when VA cannot provide needed care within applicable access standards. 

According to the letter, the Government Accountability Office report found that expanding dental eligibility could increase referrals to community providers, where veterans may also experience long wait times.  

“Reasonable and timely reimbursement, clear administrative processes and effective network-adequacy standards will help support continued participation by private dental practices and ensure that provider networks translate into meaningful appointment availability for veterans,” the ADA said.  

The Association also recommended that expanded dental benefits reflect each veteran’s individual clinical needs and be guided by evidence-based standards and clinical judgment.  

According to the letter, the benefit should support preventive, diagnostic, restorative and specialty services necessary to attain and maintain oral health and function, consistent with the VA's existing authority to determine needed care.  

The ADA further encouraged the use of access, utilization and performance measures to evaluate the expansion as it progresses. These measures could include information on funding, workforce and provider network capacity, appointment availability, wait times and Community Care claims administration.  

“These recommendations are intended to support VA’s work and help ensure that the resources available at each stage are aligned with the legislation’s expansion of eligibility,” the ADA said.  

The letter of support builds on the ADA’s previous advocacy for increased resources for VA dentistry and improved access to dental care through the Veterans Community Care Program. 

The Association said it looks forward to working with Rep. Brownley, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, VA leadership, veterans service organizations and other stakeholders to advance the legislation and support its implementation. 

For more information, visit ADA.org/Veterans.