Veterans Community Care Scheduling Improvement Act

Veterans Community Care Scheduling Improvement Act

This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement an electronic process for scheduling health care appointments furnished by the VA or through the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP) and extends an existing limitation on certain pensions. Under the bill, the VA must implement the electronic process not later than two years after the enactment of this bill.

The VA must implement a mandatory training program for VA schedulers or other employees involved in scheduling appointments regarding guidelines for the implementation of the electronic process. Additionally, the VA must prescribe performance benchmarks and outcome-based metrics for the electronic process.

The VA must also implement an outreach strategy to encourage non-VA health care providers participating in the VCCP to participate in the electronic process.

Under current law, the pension paid to veterans who reside in Medicaid nursing homes and have no spouse or child is limited to $90 a month through January 31, 2033. The bill extends this limitation through June 30, 2033.

Summary by the Congressional Research Service.