Comprehensive Dental Reform Act of 2015

Summary

Comprehensive Dental Reform Act of 2015 Amends titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to cover oral health services. Increases the federal medical assistance percentage for oral health services, thereby increasing payments to states under Medicaid. Directs the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to maintain a database of dental benefits available to adult Medicaid enrollees in each state. Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish, revise, and extend funding for grant programs for: educating nondental professionals about oral health care; providing dental services in hospital emergency rooms or in community settings; providing scholarships and education loans for oral health professional students; providing oral health services to low-income and underserved individuals; building, operating, or expanding dental clinics in schools; and providing mobile, comprehensive dental services at locations that serve individuals who qualify for benefits under specified programs. Authorizes community based dental residencies. Authorizes specified agencies to conduct research on oral health issues through FY2019. Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to make oral health services an essential health benefit. Removes restrictions on the authority of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide dental care to veterans (thereby requiring dental care on the same basis as other VA-provided medical care and services). Authorizes the VA, Department of Defense, Bureau of Prisons, and Indian Health Service to carry out demonstration programs to train and employ alternative dental health care providers in order to increase access to dental services. Directs the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of the expansion of dental service coverage pursuant to this Act. Directs the Government Accountability Office to evaluate the implementation and utilization of expanded dental service coverage under this Act and the demonstration programs authorized by this Act.

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Timeline

1. 25 February 2015

   Introduced

   Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, the Judiciary, Natural Resources, Veterans' Affairs, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 25 February 2015

   Introduced

   Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, the Judiciary, Natural Resources, Veterans' Affairs, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 25 February 2015

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 25 February 2015

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

5. 6 March 2015

   Referred

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

   Source: Committee

6. 16 March 2015

   Referred

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.

   Source: Committee

7. 23 March 2015

   Referred

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs.

   Source: Committee

8. 27 March 2015

   Referred

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

   Source: Committee

9. 23 November 2015

   Referred

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

   Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Introduced in House · 25 February 2015 · Official file

Documents

3 official files

• Introduced in House (text)

  Introduced in House · EN · 25 February 2015

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House (PDF)

  Introduced in House · EN · 25 February 2015

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 25 February 2015

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• ELIJAH CUMMINGS · D · Sponsor
• Bennie Thompson · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Rangel, Charles B. [D-NY-19] · D · Sponsor
• Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] · D · Cosponsor
• Marcy Kaptur · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. McDermott, Jim [D-WA-7] · D · Cosponsor
• · hsas00 · Standing
• · hswm00 · Standing
• · hsii00 · Standing
• · hsju00 · Standing
• · hsvr00 · Standing
• · hsif00 · Standing

Related records

• related to → Comprehensive Dental Reform Act of 2015