S. 654 (Reported-in-Senate)

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:

“§ 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.

(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).”.