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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.

USA119th CongressS-654| Senate 
| Updated: 12/2/2025
Jerry Moran

Jerry Moran

Republican Senator

Kansas

Cosponsors (3)
John Boozman (Republican)Deb Fischer (Republican)Ted Budd (Republican)

Veterans' Affairs Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill establishes a national External Provider Scheduling Program within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to assist in scheduling appointments for veterans receiving care under the Veterans Community Care Program . The program's core function is to allow VA schedulers to view external health care providers' schedules in real-time and book appointments directly. A key objective of this initiative is to significantly reduce wait times for veterans, specifically the period from referral to the actual scheduling of their community care appointments. It also aims to decrease the time VA schedulers spend on the booking process, thereby improving operational efficiency. The program is to be implemented through contracts, either existing or new, to facilitate its rapid deployment. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must ensure the program is available to all VA medical centers by September 30, 2025. Annual reports on the program's progress are required to be submitted to Congress through 2028.

Bill Text Versions

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2 versions available

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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-5035
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.
Feb 20, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Feb 20, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Mar 11, 2025
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
Jul 30, 2025
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Dec 2, 2025
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Moran with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Dec 2, 2025
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 274.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-5035
    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.


  • February 20, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 20, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.


  • March 11, 2025
    Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.


  • July 30, 2025
    Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • December 2, 2025
    Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Moran with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.


  • December 2, 2025
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 274.

Armed Forces and National Security

Computers and information technologyCongressional oversightHealth care coverage and accessHealth programs administration and fundingPublic contracts and procurementVeterans' medical care

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.

USA119th CongressS-654| Senate 
| Updated: 12/2/2025
This bill establishes a national External Provider Scheduling Program within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to assist in scheduling appointments for veterans receiving care under the Veterans Community Care Program . The program's core function is to allow VA schedulers to view external health care providers' schedules in real-time and book appointments directly. A key objective of this initiative is to significantly reduce wait times for veterans, specifically the period from referral to the actual scheduling of their community care appointments. It also aims to decrease the time VA schedulers spend on the booking process, thereby improving operational efficiency. The program is to be implemented through contracts, either existing or new, to facilitate its rapid deployment. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must ensure the program is available to all VA medical centers by September 30, 2025. Annual reports on the program's progress are required to be submitted to Congress through 2028.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
2 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-5035
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.
Feb 20, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Feb 20, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Mar 11, 2025
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
Jul 30, 2025
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Dec 2, 2025
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Moran with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Dec 2, 2025
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 274.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-5035
    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.


  • February 20, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 20, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.


  • March 11, 2025
    Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.


  • July 30, 2025
    Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • December 2, 2025
    Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Moran with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.


  • December 2, 2025
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 274.
Jerry Moran

Jerry Moran

Republican Senator

Kansas

Cosponsors (3)
John Boozman (Republican)Deb Fischer (Republican)Ted Budd (Republican)

Veterans' Affairs Committee

Armed Forces and National Security

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Computers and information technologyCongressional oversightHealth care coverage and accessHealth programs administration and fundingPublic contracts and procurementVeterans' medical care