A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish an external provider scheduling program to assist the Department of Veterans Affairs in scheduling appointments for care and services under the Veterans Community Care Program, and for other purposes.
Sponsored By: Senator Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
In Committee
Summary
This bill would create a national External Provider Scheduling Program to enable real-time scheduling across VA and community providers. It aims to centralize appointment booking for the Veterans Community Care Program and shorten waits for care.
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- Veterans: Appointments through the VA and participating outside providers would be coordinated centrally, with a stated goal of reducing time from referral to scheduled care and lowering scheduler delays.
- VA schedulers: The Secretary would develop or buy technology so schedulers can view external providers' calendars and book appointments in real time, using existing VA contracts if feasible or new contracts when needed.
- External providers and records: Cross-reference changes would treat community appointments as part of the same system and align interoperability with the new Provider Scheduling program.
- Oversight: The Secretary must send annual progress reports to the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees by September 30 each year through 2028.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Faster VA scheduling for veterans
If enacted, the bill would create a national Provider Scheduling program inside the VA. It would require the Secretary to get or build technology so VA schedulers can view community provider calendars and set appointments in real time, to the extent practicable. The Secretary could use an existing VA contract or enter a new one to get the systems. The systems would be designed to reduce (A) days from a veteran's referral to the actual scheduled appointment and (B) the days and hours VA schedulers spend scheduling. The VA would have to report progress to the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees by September 30 each year through 2028. The bill would also clarify that appointments made through these systems count as official medical appointments under the Veterans Community Care Program.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
KS • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]
NE • R
Sponsored 2/20/2025
John Boozman
AR • R
Sponsored 2/20/2025
Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC]
NC • R
Sponsored 2/20/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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