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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.
S. 654 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.
Summary
This bill establishes a new scheduling technology program within the Department of Veterans Affairs to speed up appointment scheduling for veterans receiving care through private healthcare providers under the Veterans Community Care Program. The program will give VA schedulers the ability to view healthcare providers' schedules and book appointments in real-time, rather than using current manual processes. The VA must implement this program at all its medical centers by September 30, 2025, either through existing contracts or new contracts. The goal is to reduce the time it takes from when a veteran is referred to a private provider until an appointment is scheduled, as well as reduce the time VA staff spend scheduling individual appointments. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must report to Congress annually through 2028 on progress in establishing and operating the program.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
- Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS] (R-KS)
3 cosponsors
- Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR] (R-AR)
- Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC] (R-NC)
- Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE] (R-NE)
Actions (6)
- Dec 2, 2025 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 274. · senate
- Dec 2, 2025 Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Moran with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report. · senate
- Jul 30, 2025 Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably. · senate
- Mar 11, 2025 Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-35. · senate
- Feb 20, 2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. · senate
- Feb 20, 2025 Introduced in Senate
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Full text
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 20, 2025
Mr. Moran (for himself, Mrs. Fischer, Mr. Boozman, and Mr. Budd) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
December 2, 2025
Reported by Mr. Moran, with an amendment [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]
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.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. EXTERNAL PROVIDER SCHEDULING PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) Establishment.— (1) In general.—Subchapter I of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1703G the following new section: “Sec. 1703H. External Provider Scheduling Program “(a) In General.—There is established within the Department a national External Provider Scheduling Program (in this section referred to as the ‘Program’) to assist the Department in scheduling appointments for care and services under the Veterans Community Care Program under section 1703 of this title. “(b) Elements of Program.—The Program shall consist of technology that allows schedulers of the Department to view the schedules of health care providers participating in the Veterans Community Care Program under section 1703 of this title and schedule, in real-time, appointments for care and services under such section. “(c) Use of Contracts.—The Secretary shall carry out the Program through an existing contract entered into by the Department, if feasible, or a new contract. “(d) Reduction in Wait Times.—The Secretary shall ensure that the Program— “(1) reduces the time (measured in days) from referral of veterans to health care providers under the Veterans Community Care Program under section 1703 of this title to the actual scheduling of appointments for care or services under such section; and “(2) reduces the time (measured in days and hours) for schedulers of the Department to schedule appointments for care or services under such section. “(e) Annual Report.—Not later than September 30 of each year through 2028, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the progress of the Secretary in establishing the Program.”. (2) Clerical amendment.—The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1703G the following new item:
“1703H. External Provider Scheduling Program.”. (b) Availability of Program.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that the national External Provider Scheduling Program established under section 1703H of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a)(1), is available to all medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs by not later than September 30, 2025. (c) Conforming Amendments.—Section 1703 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(2)(A), by inserting “, including pursuant to the program under section 1703H of this title,” after “medical appointments”; and (2) in subsection (h)(2)(B), by inserting “, including pursuant to the program under section 1703H of this title” before the period at the end.
SECTION 1. EXTERNAL PROVIDER SCHEDULING PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
Section 1703 of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)(2)(A), by inserting “, including pursuant to the systems required under subsection (q),” after “medical appointments”;
(2) in subsection (h)(2)(B), by inserting “, including pursuant to the systems required under subsection (q)” before the period at the end;
(3) by redesignating subsection (q) as subsection (r); and
(4) by inserting after subsection (p) the following new subsection (q):
“(q) Provider Scheduling.—
“(1) In general.—In carrying out the program under this section, the Secretary shall develop or procure such technology systems as needed to allow schedulers of the Department to view the schedules of health care providers participating in the program and schedule, in real-time, appointments for care and services under the program, to the extent practicable.
“(2) Use of contracts.—The Secretary may procure such systems as described in paragraph (1) through an existing contract entered into by the Department, if feasible, or a new contract.
“(3) Reduction in wait times.—The Secretary shall develop or procure the systems described in paragraph (1) with the intent of—
“(A) reducing the time (measured in days) from referral date of veterans to health care providers under subsection (c) to the actual scheduling of appointments for care or services under this section; and
“(B) reducing the time (measured in days and hours) for schedulers of the Department to schedule appointments for care or services under this section.
“(4) Annual report.—Not later than September 30 of each year through 2028, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the progress of the Secretary in establishing the systems required by paragraph (1).”. Calendar No. 274
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
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.
December 2, 2025
Reported with an amendment
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