Improving Veteran Access to Care Act
Sponsored By: Representative Mackenzie, Ryan [R-PA-7]
In Committee
Summary
Modernize VA appointment scheduling by requiring a phased plan and new tools so veterans can view and book appointments across primary care, mental health, and specialty care. The bill would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit that plan within 1 year and to fully implement it within 2 years after submission.
Show full summary
- Veterans: They would get a self-service scheduling platform to view and fully schedule appointments, request referrals when needed, and cancel or reschedule. The bill also requires that any VA patient can speak by phone with a scheduler who can book appointments for them.
- VA staff: The plan must upgrade employee-facing IT, training, and scheduling processes and give staff a system to view available appointments across care types.
- Oversight and planning: The plan must be developed with the Electronic Health Record Modernization Program and include reports 1 year and 2 years after submission on costs, deployment schedules, goals, metrics, challenges, and lessons learned.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Easier VA appointment scheduling for veterans
This bill would require the VA to send Congress a plan to fix appointment scheduling within one year. The plan would let patients and staff see open slots for primary, mental health, and specialty care. Veterans would be able to book, cancel, or reschedule online, request referrals, or call a scheduler to book for them. The VA would coordinate this with its electronic health record rollout. The VA would have to finish the rollout within two years after sending the plan, and file progress reports at one and two years. The bill would not limit in-person or phone scheduling. If a feature cannot be delivered, the VA would have to explain why and show how it would proceed. The bill defines "fully schedule" as a finished booking, not just a request.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Mackenzie, Ryan [R-PA-7]
PA • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1]
NH • D
Sponsored 11/12/2025
Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2]
VA • R
Sponsored 11/12/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov