SMILE for Veterans Act

The SMILE for Veterans Act directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to launch a three-year pilot program that provides dental care to eligible veterans living in rural areas who currently lack access to standard departmental services. The program operates by reimbursing or contracting with community-based providers, such as mobile clinics, nonprofit organizations, and private practices, to deliver basic preventive, restorative, and urgent dental treatments. Eligibility extends to veterans enrolled in the VA system who reside in designated rural areas and are either not otherwise eligible for dental care or unable to reach existing facilities within standard timeframes, with specific provisions allowing homeless veterans to qualify through alternative verification methods. The bill authorizes $5 million for program setup in fiscal year 2027 and $20 million annually for the following three years, while also establishing an internal working group to evaluate access barriers and requiring a final report to Congress on the pilot's effectiveness.