Sen. Moran Pushes Bill to Give VA Real-Time Access to Private Doctor Schedules
This bill has been approved by the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and is now waiting for a vote by the full Senate. It is currently listed on the Senate calendar and is actively moving through the legislative process. There are no companion bills listed for this legislation at this time.
This bill has bipartisan support and has already cleared the committee stage, which is where most bills fail. Improving veteran health care is a high priority for both parties.
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Veterans who use the Veterans Community Care Program to see outside doctors could get appointments scheduled faster because VA staff would be able to see real-time provider calendars instead of relying on phone calls and slow back-and-forth. This mainly helps veterans who live far from a VA facility or face long VA wait times and are referred to private providers.
“the Secretary shall develop or procure such technology systems as needed to allow schedulers of the Department to view the schedules of health care providers participating in the program and schedule, in real-time, appointments for care and services under the program, to the extent practicable.”
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 274.
The bill is now on the schedule for the full chamber to consider. It's in line for debate and a vote.
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Moran with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
The committee approved this bill and is sending it to the full chamber for a vote. This is a significant step — most bills never get this far.
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
The committee approved this bill and is sending it to the full chamber for a vote. This is a significant step — most bills never get this far.
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-35.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed H.R. 3482, which permanently implements an upgraded scheduling platform at the VA. The system allows staff to view available appointments at both VA facilities and participating community care providers on a single interface to reduce wait times.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has implemented the External Provider Scheduling (EPS) Program in all facilities. The technology provides staff instant access to private providers' scheduling systems, allowing them to book appointments in real-time and eliminating multiple phone calls.
The proposal, known as the SCHEDULES Act, would require the VA to set a national standard governing the time between a referral and a veteran's appointment for specialty care, aiming to speed up the process by which veterans receive care from private providers.
No votes or related bills recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
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.
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