Bill > S654

This bill establishes a national External Provider Scheduling Program within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to improve appointment scheduling for veterans seeking care through the Veterans Community Care Program. The program will provide technology that allows VA schedulers to view real-time schedules of healthcare providers participating in the Community Care Program, enabling them to schedule appointments more efficiently. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs will implement the program either through an existing contract or a new contract, with the primary goals of reducing wait times for veterans from referral to actual appointment scheduling and decreasing the time schedulers need to set up appointments. The VA is required to submit annual reports to congressional veterans' affairs committees on the program's progress, and the program must be available at all VA medical centers by September 30, 2025. The bill also makes minor conforming amendments to existing VA healthcare provisions to integrate this new scheduling program into current regulations, ultimately aiming to streamline and expedite healthcare access for veterans.

Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/654/all-info