Bill > HR6038

This bill requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop and submit a comprehensive plan within one year to improve the VA's healthcare appointment scheduling process. The plan must include actions, resources, and technological improvements to enhance healthcare delivery, access, and efficiency. Key objectives include developing a scheduling system that allows both VA personnel and patients to view available appointments across primary, mental health, and specialty care; creating a self-service scheduling platform enabling patients to view, schedule, reschedule, and cancel appointments, including a referral request mechanism; and establishing a process for patients to speak with schedulers who can help book appointments. The Secretary must ensure the plan considers the Electronic Health Record Modernization Program and submit implementation progress reports to Congress after one and two years, detailing costs, deployment schedules, goals, metrics, challenges, and lessons learned. The bill explicitly preserves veterans' ability to schedule appointments through non-online methods if they prefer. The plan must be fully implemented within two years of submission, with the ultimate goal of creating a more user-friendly and efficient appointment scheduling system for veterans.

Health and Social Services, Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/6038/all-info