H.R. 6038: Improving Veteran Access to Care Act

This bill, titled the Improving Veteran Access to Care Act, aims to enhance the appointment scheduling system for health care services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Below are the key components of the bill:

Objective

The primary goal of the bill is to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop a comprehensive plan within one year of the bill's enactment. This plan is intended to improve the process through which veterans schedule appointments for health care services.

Plan Requirements

The plan must include:

• Actions and Resources: Necessary actions, resources, technology, and process improvements that will lead to timely health care delivery, better access, enhanced customer experience, and efficient service in scheduling health care appointments.
• Schedule and Timeline: A proposed schedule and timeline for implementing the improvements detailed in the plan.

Specific Objectives

Several objectives must be addressed in the plan:

• Development of a Scheduling System: Create or continue developing a system that allows VA personnel and patients to view available appointments for various types of care, including primary, mental health, and specialty care.
• Self-Service Scheduling Platform: Establish a self-service platform that enables veterans to view and schedule appointments independently. This system should allow them to request referrals if needed and to cancel or reschedule appointments.
• Telephonic Scheduling Assistance: Provide a process for veterans to call a scheduler who can assist them with appointment availability and scheduling directly.
• Improvement of IT and Training: Focus on necessary improvements related to employee-facing technologies, training, and operational processes that relate to health care appointment scheduling.

Implementation Timeline

Once the plan is submitted, the Secretary must fully implement it within two years.

Coordination with Electronic Health Records

The development of the scheduling improvement plan must consider the VA's Electronic Health Record Modernization Program to ensure that the new scheduling tools integrate smoothly with existing systems.

Reporting Requirements

After submitting the plan, the Secretary is required to provide progress reports to Congress at one year and two years after submission. These reports must detail:

• The costs incurred and expected to complete the implementation.
• The deployment schedule for any new capabilities developed.
• The goals achieved, challenges faced, and lessons learned during the implementation.

Veteran Access to Services

The bill includes a provision ensuring that veterans can still contact the VA directly for appointment scheduling through non-digital means, thereby providing options for those who prefer traditional methods.

Definitions

Key terms used in the bill are defined, clarifying the roles of the involved committees in Congress and specifying what constitutes a fully scheduled appointment.

Relevant Companies

• IBM (IBM) - Possible involvement in software development for the scheduling system and integration with electronic health records.
• Oracle (ORCL) - May be impacted through their health care solutions provided to the VA for electronic health record integration.