Bill · S. 654· Senate(119-S-654)
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.
- Introduced
- 2/20/2025
- Last activity
- 12/2/2025 — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 274.
- Sponsored by
- Jerry Moran
- Cosponsors
- - 3 - 0
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
This bill aims to amend title 38 of the United States Code to create a national External Provider Scheduling Program. This program is designed to help the Department of Veterans Affairs schedule appointments for care and services through the Veterans Community Care Program. The program will utilize technology that allows Department schedulers to view the schedules of participating health care providers in real-time. The Secretary is directed to use existing or new contracts to carry out this program. Additionally, the program is intended to reduce the time it takes to schedule appointments and the time between a referral and an actual appointment.
Yes
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?+6
The program aims to reduce the time between a medical referral and an actual appointment for veterans seeking community care.
Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive?+6
The bill enhances the delivery of healthcare services to veterans by improving the efficiency of the appointment scheduling process.
Does this make health care easier to get in general?+5
The bill implements a real-time scheduling technology intended to reduce wait times for veterans seeking care through the community provider program.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Reduced Wait Times for Care: The Secretary is required to ensure the program reduces the time between a veteran's referral and the actual scheduling of an appointment, as well as the time it takes for schedulers to process those appointments. (Section 1703H(d))
-
Improved Scheduling Efficiency: The program implements technology that allows Department schedulers to view the schedules of health care providers participating in the Veterans Community Care Program in real-time. (Section 1703H(b))
-
Increased Accessibility of the Program: The Secretary must ensure the program is available to all Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers by September 30, 2025. (Section 1(b))
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.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Veterans+6
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Veterans Benefits+6
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+5
- 12/2/2025
- Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Moran with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 274.
- 7/30/2025
- Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- 3/11/2025
- Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-35.
- 2/20/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
John BoozmanRepublican · Arkansas
Ted BuddRepublican · North Carolina
Deb FischerRepublican · Nebraska