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.

# Summary of S 654 - Veterans Community Care Scheduling Bill **What the Bill Would Do** This bill would create a new scheduling system within the Department of Veterans Affairs to speed up appointment booking for veterans who receive care from outside providers through the Veterans Community Care Program. The system would give VA staff real-time access to participating doctors' and clinics' schedules, allowing them to book appointments faster without the delays that currently occur between when a veteran is referred to outside care and when they actually get scheduled. The VA would be required to have this system available at all VA medical centers by September 30, 2025. **Who It Affects** Veterans would be the primary beneficiaries, as they could receive appointments more quickly through the community care program.

VA medical centers and their scheduling staff would need to implement and use the new system, and private healthcare providers participating in the veterans' care network would need to share their schedule information through this platform. **Current Status** The bill was introduced by Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) in the 119th Congress and is currently being reviewed in committee. It has not yet been voted on by the full Senate.