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Congress·In Progress·H.R. 3482

Rep. Barrett Introduces Bill to Create Online Scheduling System for Veterans Seeking Private Care

Veterans Community Care Scheduling Improvement Act

about 1 month ago·View on Congress.gov

Legislative Progress

House
Senate
President
Law

Key Points

  • The bill requires the VA to build a new online scheduling system within one year. VA staff will use it to search, sort, and book appointments for veterans with private doctors participating in the Veterans Community Care Program.
  • The system lets VA schedulers view, search, and sort available appointments by type of care, location, and date, and send referral or authorization paperwork directly to private providers — streamlining what is currently a slower, more manual process.
  • Private healthcare providers must voluntarily opt in to the system. Within 90 days of enactment, the VA must launch an outreach campaign and a public website explaining how providers can participate.

    From policy text

    “the Secretary shall plan and carry out an outreach campaign to encourage non-Department providers that participate in the Veterans Community Care Program to participate in the program under this subsection”
    View in full text
  • The VA must report to Congress every six months on the program's performance, including how many private providers are participating and how many appointments are booked through the new system versus the old process. The program automatically expires after seven years.

    From policy text

    “The program under this subsection shall terminate seven years after the date of the enactment of the Veterans Community Care Scheduling Improvement Act.”
    View in full text
VeteransHealthcareTechnology Digital

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

4 milestones7 actions
Feb 12, 2026House

Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.

Feb 12, 2026House

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

Feb 5, 2026House

Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Discharged

Jun 11, 2025House

Subcommittee Hearings Held

Jun 6, 2025House

Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

90 days after enactment

VA must issue regulations and launch outreach campaign to recruit private providers

Within 90 days of the bill becoming law, the VA would start reaching out to private doctors and set up a public website explaining how they can join the new scheduling system.

Within one year of enactment

New online scheduling system goes live

VA schedulers begin using the new tool to book appointments with participating private doctors, replacing the older, slower process for veterans seeking community care.

Seven years after enactment

Program automatically expires

The scheduling program sunsets after seven years unless Congress acts to extend it, potentially returning veterans to the older scheduling process.

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Veterans Community Care Scheduling Improvement Act

Bill NumberHR 3482
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionOrdered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(1)
D: 1

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.