Technical corrections only. The engrossed version (v3) updates the bill's status from "A BILL" to "AN ACT" and includes the attestation of passage by the Senate. No substantive policy changes were made between v2 and v3.
Improving Veteran Access to Care Act
- Sponsor
- Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
- Committees
- Veterans' Affairs Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Dec 19, 2025
Bottom line
This bill mandates the Department of Veterans Affairs to modernize and streamline its health care appointment scheduling systems and processes to enhance veteran access and experience.
What it actually does
This bill mandates the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop and implement a comprehensive plan to significantly improve the process for scheduling health care appointments for veterans. The plan must include developing a new scheduling system accessible to both staff and patients, a self-service online platform for booking and managing appointments, and a dedicated telephonic scheduling service. It also requires coordination with the ongoing Electronic Health Record Modernization Program and sets specific timelines for plan submission and full implementation.
Proponents argue
Supporters argue that this bill is a critical step towards addressing long-standing issues with veteran access to timely health care by mandating a modern, user-friendly, and efficient appointment scheduling system. They contend that improving scheduling will reduce wait times, enhance the overall veteran experience, and ensure that veterans receive the care they need when they need it, leveraging technology while preserving traditional access methods.
Opponents contend
Critics, if any, might argue that while the intent is good, mandating specific technological solutions and timelines could prove challenging for an agency as large and complex as the VA, potentially leading to costly delays or systems that do not fully integrate with existing infrastructure. They might also express concern about the potential for new systems to inadvertently create barriers for veterans who are less technologically adept, despite the bill's rule of construction.
The bill is concise and can be read and understood quickly, allowing ample time for stakeholders to evaluate its directives.
Section 2(a)
Requirement for a Comprehensive Scheduling Improvement Plan
This section mandates that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs must, within one year of the bill's enactment, submit a detailed plan to Congress. This plan is designed to improve the entire process of scheduling health care appointments for veterans, focusing on making it better for both veterans seeking care and the VA employees responsible for scheduling.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue this provision is essential to force the VA to address persistent scheduling problems systematically, ensuring accountability and a clear roadmap for improvement.
Critics contend
No specific opposition is typically raised against the mandate for a plan, as the goal of improving veteran care is widely supported. Potential concerns might arise regarding the feasibility or cost of the plan itself, rather than the mandate to create one.
Tradeoffs
Balances the urgency of addressing veteran access issues with the need for a well-thought-out, comprehensive strategy rather than piecemeal solutions.
Section 2(b)(1)
Required Actions, Resources, and Technology for the Plan
The plan must outline specific actions, allocate necessary resources, identify technological upgrades, and detail process improvements. The goal is to ensure the VA can timely deliver better health care, improve access, enhance customer experience, and increase efficiency in providing care to veterans.
Section 2(b)(2)(A)
Mandated Objectives for Scheduling System Development
This section outlines four key objectives for the VA's scheduling plan: 1) developing a system for both staff and patients to view available appointments across all care types (primary, mental health, specialty); 2) creating a self-service online platform for patients to fully schedule, cancel, or reschedule appointments, including a referral request method; 3) establishing a telephonic service where patients can speak with a scheduler to fully book appointments; and 4) incorporating other functions like oversight, metric tracking, and IT improvements for employees.
Section 2(b)(2)(B)
Requirement to Report on Unimplemented Plan Objectives
If the Secretary determines that any of the mandated objectives or features cannot be implemented, this provision requires a report explaining why it's not feasible and outlining an alternative plan that still achieves the overall goals without that specific objective or feature.
Section 2(c)
Full Implementation Deadline
This section sets a firm deadline for the VA: the Secretary must fully implement the approved scheduling improvement plan within two years after it is submitted to Congress.
Section 2(d)
Coordination with Electronic Health Record Modernization Program
This provision requires the Secretary to develop the scheduling plan in careful consideration of the VA's ongoing Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) Program. The goal is to ensure that the new scheduling tools and features integrate smoothly with the EHRM deployment schedule and capabilities, avoiding conflicts or redundancies.
Section 2(e)
Periodic Reports on Implementation Progress
The bill requires the Secretary to submit two progress reports to Congress: one year and two years after the initial plan submission. These reports must detail the costs incurred, expected remaining costs, deployment schedules for new capabilities, and any goals achieved, challenges faced, or lessons learned during implementation.