Sponsors (4)
The bill aims to modernize VA scheduling to improve veterans' access and program transparency while reducing IT duplication, but it requires upfront spending and raises risks of implementation delays, data privacy/security issues, and possible digital exclusion for some veterans.
Veterans will get easier and faster access to VA care through a new self‑service scheduling platform, phone scheduling options, and process, staffing, and training improvements that let them view, book, cancel, and reschedule appointments and aim to shorten wait times.
Taxpayers and Congress will receive greater transparency on costs, schedules, and program performance via required 1‑ and 2‑year progress reports.
Coordinating the scheduling work with the VA's EHR Modernization reduces the risk of incompatible IT systems and duplicate effort, lowering technical deployment risk and potential long‑term costs.
Integrating scheduling data with EHR systems increases privacy and security risks to veterans' health information unless strict IT controls and safeguards are implemented.
If implementation is delayed or planned features prove infeasible, veterans could face prolonged scheduling disruptions and degraded access to care without guaranteed remedies.
Developing and deploying new scheduling IT and training will require upfront spending that could increase VA costs or divert funds from other services, affecting taxpayers and veterans.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires the VA to submit within one year and fully implement within two years a plan to improve appointment scheduling, including self-service and telephonic booking and oversight reporting.
Requires the VA Secretary to produce, within one year, a detailed plan to improve appointment scheduling for veterans and VA scheduling staff, and to fully implement that plan within two years after submission. The plan must cover a patient self-service scheduling platform, a scheduling system for staff, telephonic access to schedulers able to complete bookings, oversight and metrics, IT and training needs, and alignment with the VA’s electronic health record modernization efforts. Progress reports on costs, timelines, metrics, and lessons learned must be sent to the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees at one and two years after plan submission. Non-online scheduling options must be preserved.
Introduced February 18, 2025 by Margaret Wood Hassan · Last progress December 19, 2025