PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Mar 28, 2017
Veterans Early Treatment for Chronic Ailment Resurgence through Examinations Act of 2017 or the VET CARE Act of 2017
This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to: (1) carry out a four-year pilot program in five Veterans Health Administration facilities to provide outpatient dental services and treatment, and related dental appliances, to eligible veterans at no cost; and (2) determine whether there is a correlation between veterans receiving such services and their suffering fewer complications of chronic ailments, thereby yielding a lower cost of care.
"Eligible veterans" means veterans who are:
enrolled in, but not eligible for dental care under, the VA's health care program;
between 40 and 70 years of age; and
diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Applicants shall receive an initial periodontal evaluation. Those diagnosed with periodontal disease that requires surgery shall be disqualified.
The VA shall enroll at least 1,500 eligible veterans, one-third of whom shall have been diagnosed with no or mild periodontitis and two-thirds of whom shall have been diagnosed with moderate to severe periodontitis.
People & committees
Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12] · R–FL
Legislative record
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Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Aug 11, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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