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 Number
- S. 654
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-02: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 274.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-08T10:56:17Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
This bill (S. 654) aims to improve the efficiency of scheduling medical appointments for veterans by requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to develop or acquire technology that allows real-time access to community health care providers' schedules under the Veterans Community Care Program. The program, established by law in 2018, lets eligible veterans receive care from non-VA providers when VA facilities cannot meet timely access standards.
Key Provisions
- Technology Development: The VA must create or obtain systems enabling its schedulers to view participating providers' availability and book appointments instantly, where feasible.
- Contract Flexibility: These systems can be procured via an existing VA contract if practical, or through a new one.
- Focus on Efficiency: The systems are designed to shorten the wait from a veteran's referral to appointment scheduling (measured in days) and reduce the time schedulers spend booking appointments (measured in days and hours).
- Reporting Requirements: The VA Secretary must submit annual progress reports to the Senate and House Committees on Veterans' Affairs from 2025 through 2028, detailing implementation efforts.
- Integration with Existing Law: References to these scheduling systems are added to sections of the law covering VA medical appointments and community care eligibility.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 1703 of Title 38, U.S. Code (which governs the Veterans Community Care Program) by adding a new subsection (q) specifically on "Provider Scheduling." This introduces mandatory technology requirements not previously detailed in the law.
- Redesignates the prior subsection (q) as (r) to accommodate the new addition.
- Updates cross-references in subsections (a)(2)(A) and (h)(2)(B) to explicitly include the new scheduling systems in broader VA appointment and eligibility rules.
These changes build on the 2018 VA MISSION Act, which expanded community care access, by addressing a key bottleneck: scheduling delays.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The VA will need to invest in technology and contracts, potentially streamlining operations and reducing administrative burdens on staff. This could lead to better resource allocation across VA medical centers.
- On Citizens: Veterans eligible for community care may experience faster access to appointments, reducing wait times for treatments like primary care, mental health services, or specialty care, which could improve health outcomes.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic VA operations and U.S.-based providers.
Overall, it could lower costs for the VA by minimizing delays that lead to prolonged or unnecessary care needs.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Veterans: Primary beneficiaries, as quicker scheduling enhances timely access to health services.
- Department of Veterans Affairs: Responsible for implementation, including technology procurement and reporting; staff schedulers will use the new systems.
- Community Health Care Providers: Participating providers' schedules will be integrated into the system, potentially increasing appointment bookings but requiring cooperation on real-time availability.
- Congressional Committees: Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees receive oversight reports, influencing future VA funding and policy.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens enforcement of timely care mandates under the Veterans Community Care Program by mandating specific tools, potentially reducing lawsuits over access delays. No new funding is authorized, so implementation relies on existing VA budgets.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority to regulate federal agencies and provide for veterans' welfare (Article I, Section 8), without raising separation-of-powers concerns.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (introduced by Sens. Moran, Fischer, Boozman, and Budd) signals broad support for VA improvements. Annual reports ensure congressional accountability, which could shape future veterans' health legislation amid ongoing debates on VA efficiency and privatization of care.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE], Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR], Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC]
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-02: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 274.
- 2025-12-02: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Moran with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
- 2025-12-02: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Moran with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
- 2025-07-30: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- 2025-03-11: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-35.
- 2025-02-20: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 2025-02-20: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- 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. — issued 2025-02-20 — PDF (4 pages)
- 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. — issued 2025-12-02 — PDF (8 pages)