Bill · S. 4229· Senate(119-S-4229)
SCHEDULES Act of 2026
- Introduced
- 3/26/2026
- Last activity
- 3/26/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- Sponsored by
- Rick Scott
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "SCHEDULES Act of 2026," directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to create a comprehensive standard for the time between a care referral and an actual appointment. This standard applies to care received at Department facilities or through the community. The Secretary is also required to publish any new standards or modifications in the Federal Register and on a public website. Additionally, the Secretary must submit quarterly reports to Congress regarding how many referrals meet these standards. These reports must include specific data on different categories of care and rankings of medical centers. Finally, an annual report must include steps taken to improve timeliness and an estimate for full compliance.
Yes· 3 of 4
Does this help veterans get medical care?+6
The bill requires the establishment of a comprehensive standard for the time between medical referrals and appointments for veterans.
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?+6
The bill creates accountability for the timeliness of healthcare services provided to veterans through Department facilities or community care.
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+5
The bill mandates the publication of care standards in the Federal Register and the public availability of quarterly performance reports on a website.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Accountability for Care Timing: The Secretary must establish a comprehensive standard for the time between a referral being entered and an appointment occurring, whether at a Department facility or in the community (Section 2(a)(1)).
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Transparency of Care Standards: The Secretary is required to publish the established standard in the Federal Register and on a publicly available website at least 30 days before implementation or modification (Section 2(a)(3)).
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Improved Oversight via Reporting: The Secretary must submit quarterly reports to Congress showing the number and percentage of referrals that meet the established standard (Section 2(b)(1)).
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Detailed Performance Tracking: Reports must include data on the most in-demand categories of care, such as mental health or cardiology, to show how well standards are being met in specific fields (Section 2(b)(2)(B)).
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Public Access to Performance Data: The Secretary must make quarterly reports available to the public on a Veterans Health Administration website (Section 2(b)(4)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts or burdens are explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Healthcare
- Improves Veterans Healthcare+6Improves Healthcare Access+4
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Veterans+6
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+5
- 3/26/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.