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.

Bill: 119-s-654
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
Introduced: 2025-02-20
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Computers and information technology

Congressional oversight

Health care coverage and access

Health programs administration and funding

Public contracts and procurement

Veterans' medical care
Latest action: action_date: 2025-07-30
text: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-02-20
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>This bill establishes within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) a national External Provider Scheduling Program to assist the VA in scheduling appointments for care and services under the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP). The program must consist of technology that allows VA schedulers to view the schedules of health care providers participating in the VCCP in real time.</p><p>The VA must ensure the program reduces the time (1) from referral to the actual scheduling of appointments for care or services, and (2) for VA schedulers to schedule appointments for care or services.</p><p>The VA must also ensure the program is available to all VA medical centers by September 30, 2025.</p>

tv_txt: II 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 654 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 20, 2025 Mr. Moran (for himself, Mrs. Fischer , Mr. Boozman , and Mr. Budd ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs 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.

1. External provider scheduling program of Department of Veterans Affairs (a) Establishment (1) In general Subchapter I of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1703G the following new section: 1703H. External Provider Scheduling Program (a) In general There is established within the Department a national External Provider Scheduling Program (in this section referred to as the Program ) to assist the Department in scheduling appointments for care and services under the Veterans Community Care Program under section 1703 of this title. (b) Elements of program The Program shall consist of technology that allows schedulers of the Department to view the schedules of health care providers participating in the Veterans Community Care Program under section 1703 of this title and schedule, in real-time, appointments for care and services under such section. (c) Use of contracts The Secretary shall carry out the Program through an existing contract entered into by the Department, if feasible, or a new contract. (d) Reduction in wait times The Secretary shall ensure that the Program— (1) reduces the time (measured in days) from referral of veterans to health care providers under the Veterans Community Care Program under section 1703 of this title to the actual scheduling of appointments for care or services under such section; and (2) reduces the time (measured in days and hours) for schedulers of the Department to schedule appointments for care or services under such section. (e) Annual report Not later than September 30 of each year through 2028, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the progress of the Secretary in establishing the Program. . (2) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1703G the following new item: 1703H. External Provider Scheduling Program. . (b) Availability of program The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that the national External Provider Scheduling Program established under section 1703H of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a)(1), is available to all medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs by not later than September 30, 2025. (c) Conforming amendments Section 1703 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(2)(A), by inserting , including pursuant to the program under section 1703H of this title, after medical appointments ; and (2) in subsection (h)(2)(B), by inserting , including pursuant to the program under section 1703H of this title before the period at the end.