SCHEDULES Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- S. 4229
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-26: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-27T14:34:29Z
AI-Generated Summary
SCHEDULES Act of 2026 (S. 4229)
Purpose
To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to create a single, overall standard for how quickly appointments must be scheduled after a veteran's referral for care—whether at VA facilities or through community providers—and to provide regular reports to Congress on compliance with this standard.
Key Provisions
- New Standard Creation: The VA Secretary must establish a "comprehensive standard" measuring time from referral entry in the VA's care coordination system to the appointment date. This applies to both VA facilities and community care.
- Flexibility and Notice: The standard can be updated as VA scheduling processes improve, but must be published in the Federal Register (a public government record) and on a VA website at least 30 days in advance.
- Quarterly Reporting to Congress:
- Number and percentage of referrals meeting the new standard, plus existing benchmarks: 3 business days for VA facilities and 7 calendar days for community care.
- Breakdown by VA facility, including the top 5+ most common care types (e.g., mental health, cardiology).
- Ranking of all VA medical centers from best to worst in meeting the new standard, including by state.
- Annual Additions to Reports: Four-quarter summary data, steps taken to speed up care, and a timeline for full compliance.
- Public Access: All reports posted on the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) website.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a new, unified timing standard beyond current separate rules (3 business days for VA facilities; 7 calendar days for community care).
- Adds mandatory quarterly reporting with detailed breakdowns, facility rankings, and public transparency—previously not required at this level.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: VA must invest in tracking, reporting, and process improvements, potentially straining resources but driving efficiency in scheduling.
- Citizens (Veterans): Could lead to faster access to care through better accountability and targeted improvements at underperforming facilities.
- Congress: Gains detailed oversight data for monitoring VA performance.
- No direct impact on international relations.
Main Stakeholders
- Veterans: Primary beneficiaries seeking timely care.
- Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): Responsible for implementation, reporting, and compliance.
- Congress: Receives reports for oversight.
- VA Facilities and Medical Centers: Subject to rankings and performance tracking.
- Community Care Providers: Included in referral timing standards and data.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Mandates administrative actions (standard-setting and reporting) enforceable through congressional oversight; no new funding specified, so relies on existing VA authority.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's power to regulate federal agencies and provide for veterans' welfare (Article I, Section 8).
- Political: Increases transparency and accountability for VA healthcare, potentially pressuring improvements but highlighting facility disparities publicly. No partisan elements noted in the bill text.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-26: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 2026-03-26: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Scheduling for Community Health and Easy Data to Understand for Legislators to Evaluate Services Act of 2026 — issued 2026-03-26 — PDF (4 pages)