This bill creates an online scheduling program in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The program allows a VA scheduler using an information technology system to set appointments for covered veterans with non-Department health care providers who choose to take part. Schedulers must be able to view, search, sort, and book appointments by type of care, location, and date. The system also must let schedulers send referral or authorization documents to non-Department providers and perform other functions the Secretary requires. The Secretary must issue regulations and run an outreach campaign to recruit participating providers within 90 days. The Secretary must report regularly to the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees about how the program works, provider participation, and appointment counts. The program will end seven years after the law takes effect. The bill also moves and updates the statutory placement of these rules in title 38 of the U.S. Code.
If you are a covered veteran, a VA scheduler may be able to book appointments directly with community providers who join the program using a VA IT system. VA medical center employees are directed to use the system instead of previous manual processes when it is practical. Community providers that want to participate can sign up after the VA publishes program details and a point of contact. The program will run for seven years unless changed by later action.
No publicly available information on projected costs or savings is included in the bill text or metadata provided.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.