S.Amdt. 2935

This amendment, submitted by Ms. Hassan and Mr. Boozman, aims to add Section 1067 to bill S. 2296. Its purpose is to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to create and implement a plan to improve how health care appointments are scheduled.

Proposed Changes and Objectives

The amendment adds a requirement for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit a plan to Congress within one year of the Act's enactment. This plan must focus on:

• Scheduling Systems: Developing a system where staff and patients can see available appointments for primary, mental health, and specialty care.
• Self-Service Platform: Creating a platform for patients to view and fully schedule appointments, request referrals, and cancel or reschedule appointments.
• Phone Support: Creating a process for patients to speak with a scheduler over the phone to find availability and fully schedule appointments.
• Other Improvements: Addressing technology, resources, and process improvements to increase efficiency and customer experience.

Accountability and Implementation

To hold the Department accountable, the amendment includes the following requirements:

• Reporting: If the Secretary cannot implement certain objectives, they must provide an explanation and an alternative plan.
• Timeline: The plan must be fully implemented within two years of being submitted to Congress.
• Coordination: The plan must consider the Electronic Health Record Modernization Program's capabilities and schedule.
• Progress Reports: The Secretary must submit reports one and two years after submitting the plan, detailing costs, deployment schedules, and goals achieved.
• Patient Choice: The plan cannot stop veterans from scheduling appointments through non-online processes if they prefer to do so.