VA has released a request for proposals for a new dental care administrator to operate the department’s next generation network of community care dental providers.
The goal is to contract with a vendor that will support the department in building and maintaining a robust national network of licensed dental providers and practitioners. The network will include general and specialty dental care, preventive dental services and pharmacy support.
Through this new contract, VA aims to improve and standardize dental care delivery, ensuring Veterans receive the preventive and restorative dental services they need to maintain their health.
VA’s community care program enables Veterans to access health care from non-VA medical providers at the department’s expense. Community care has been an integral part of caring for Veterans since the World War II era. In 2018, President Trump enshrined this right for Veterans by signing the bipartisan MISSION Act. Today, about 40% of all VA care is provided through community care.
Of the nearly nine million Veterans enrolled in VA health care, approximately 26% are eligible for dental care. In fiscal year 2025 alone, 888,051 Veterans received dental care through VA, with more than 3.5 million dental procedures delivered through community care.
“Dental health is a critical component of overall well-being,” said VA Secretary Doug Collins. “This RFP will result in a contract that dramatically improves our ability to provide quality dental care to eligible Veterans while ensuring they can choose the provider that’s best for them.”
View the RFP online. VA invites interested companies to submit proposals by March 16, 2026.
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promises promises
trump will want the dentist to absorb the costs under the pretext that he got you a art of the dental deal.
Need help with dental issues I am qualified for implants here south Texas gulf coastal health systems Harlingen TX need assistance with notice of disagreement process tvc Texas veterans commission not supportive need further notice of appeal higher committee in San Antonio TX or corpus Christi Texas please reply Ty
This is the same announcement that came out on Feb. 10.
The problem here is that it does nothing for the 74-85% of enrolled veterans who are not eligible for VA dental care.
Those who earned their healthcare benefits by their service should get healthcare benefits at least as good as those who earned theirs by unlawfully entering the U. S. and enrolling in County Care, a Medicaid program in Cook County, IL. (One must be a resident of the County, where “resident” means that they reside in the County, regardless of immigration status.) This program not only includes dental care, it gives free prescriptions and $50 VISA gift cards to patients just for doing what they are supposed to do, like making it to their appointments, getting screenings and vaccinations. Many veterans enrolled in VA healthcare must make copays for their prescriptions and appointments.
H. R. 210 would require the VA to treat dental care like the other medial specialties, but it only has 68 cosponsors, and unless it gets a lot more support, it will die in the 119th Congress, as did its predecessor bills. Urge your congressmen to cosponsor this important legislation.
The Federal government is responsible for Veterans care. The county is going to take care of its citizens, be it legal or illegal immigrants because they’re worried about the health of all the residents. If the Federal government can give ICE trillions of dollars to chase and round up immigrants, one will think they can find money to take care of every veteran. ICE received more money than the VA to hire and give $50,000 bonuses to recruits plus pay for their student loans, yet, the federal government doesn’t have money to expand services for Veterans.
All Veterans using VA health care should be eligible for dental care. It’s extremely important to overall health.