Improving Veteran Access to Care Act | ChamberLight

PASSED SENATE· 119TH CONGRESS

Senate BillS 607Veterans' medical careHealth care coverage and access

Improving Veteran Access to Care Act

INTRO FEB 18· LAST ACTION DEC 19

READING

5MIN

COSPONSORS

3BIPARTISAN

READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL

NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST

One chamber only

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

STEP 4 / 8

Introduced

In Committee

Reported

Passed Senate

Passed House

Conference

To President

Became Law

WHAT THE BILL DOES

AI-written

This bill matters because many veterans currently face challenges and long wait times when trying to schedule appointments for their healthcare through the VA. If this bill becomes law, it could significantly streamline the process, making it quicker and less frustrating for veterans to get the medical, mental health, and specialized care they need.

Without this bill, the VA might continue with its current, often criticized, scheduling systems, leaving veterans struggling to navigate complex processes. By requiring specific modernizations like self-service online scheduling and clearer phone support, the bill aims to directly address a common pain point for veterans, improving their overall access to vital health services and their experience with the VA.

KEY PROVISIONS

5AI-extracted

PROVISION 01

Requires the VA Secretary to submit a detailed plan to Congress within one year to improve healthcare appointment scheduling for both patients and staff.

This initiates a structured approach to addressing the long-standing issues with VA appointment scheduling.

PROVISION 02

Mandates the development of a scheduling system that allows both VA staff and patients to view available appointments for all types of care (primary, mental health, specialty).

This transparency helps veterans find suitable appointment times more easily and reduces reliance on phone calls.

PROVISION 03

Requires a self-service online platform for veterans to view, fully schedule, request referrals, and cancel/reschedule appointments.

This empowers veterans to manage their healthcare appointments independently and conveniently, similar to private sector systems.

PROVISION 04

Ensures veterans can still call a dedicated scheduler to get assistance determining appointment availability and fully booking appointments over the phone.

This maintains an important access channel for veterans who prefer or require phone assistance, ensuring no one is left behind by new technology.

PROVISION 05

Requires the VA to fully implement the plan within two years of its submission to Congress and provide regular progress reports.

This provision ensures accountability and timely execution of the proposed improvements, preventing delays.

SPONSORSHIP

1 + 3

COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 66%

DEM 1 REP 2 IND 0

ACTION TIMELINE

11 EVENTS

DEC 19

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

FLOOR

DEC 19

Received in the House.

HOUSE · FLOOR

DEC 19

Held at the desk.

FLOOR

DEC 18

Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.

SENATE · FLOOR

BILL INFO

TypeSenate Bill

NumberS 607

Congress119th

StatusPassed Senate

IntroducedFeb 18, 2025

Last actionDec 19, 2025

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PASSED SENATE· 119TH CONGRESS · VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED FEB 18, 2025

Senate BillS 607Veterans' medical careHealth care coverage and access

Improving Veteran Access to Care Act

INTRODUCED FEB 18, 2025· LAST ACTION DEC 19, 2025

PASSAGE CHANCES

—%

READING

5 min

COSPONSORS

COMPLEXITY

Moderate

Call my reps

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

STEP 4 OF 8

Introduced

In Committee

Reported

Passed Senate

Passed House

Conference

To President

Became Law

Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed Senate
Passed House
Conference
To President
Became Law

WHAT THE BILL DOES

AI-written

KEY PROVISIONS

AI-extracted

high

Requires the VA Secretary to submit a detailed plan to Congress within one year to improve healthcare appointment scheduling for both patients and staff.

This initiates a structured approach to addressing the long-standing issues with VA appointment scheduling.

high

Mandates the development of a scheduling system that allows both VA staff and patients to view available appointments for all types of care (primary, mental health, specialty).

This transparency helps veterans find suitable appointment times more easily and reduces reliance on phone calls.

high

Requires a self-service online platform for veterans to view, fully schedule, request referrals, and cancel/reschedule appointments.

This empowers veterans to manage their healthcare appointments independently and conveniently, similar to private sector systems.

med

Ensures veterans can still call a dedicated scheduler to get assistance determining appointment availability and fully booking appointments over the phone.

This maintains an important access channel for veterans who prefer or require phone assistance, ensuring no one is left behind by new technology.

high

Requires the VA to fully implement the plan within two years of its submission to Congress and provide regular progress reports.

This provision ensures accountability and timely execution of the proposed improvements, preventing delays.

DEADLINES & DATES

AI-extracted

An AI model extracted this from the bill’s official record and can make mistakes. Check the official text ↗ (opens in new tab)

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.

VA Secretary must submit a plan to Congress to improve health care appointment scheduling.

Not later than two years after submitting the plan to Congress.

VA Secretary must fully implement the plan.

Not later than one year after the date on which the Secretary submits the plan.

VA Secretary must submit an implementation progress report to Congress.

Not later than two years after the date on which the Secretary submits the plan.

VA Secretary must submit a second implementation progress report to Congress.

GLOSSARY

AI-written

Secretary of Veterans Affairs: The head of the Department of Veterans Affairs, responsible for managing federal benefits and services for veterans.
Appropriate committees of Congress: The specific committees in the House of Representatives and the Senate (in this case, the Veterans' Affairs Committees) that oversee veterans' issues.
Fully schedule: To complete the entire booking process for an appointment, rather than just requesting it or being placed on a waiting list.
Electronic Health Record Modernization Program: A major ongoing project by the Department of Veterans Affairs to update its computer systems that store veterans' medical information and health records.
Self-service scheduling platform: An online system or app that allows individuals to book, change, or cancel their own appointments without needing to speak directly with a staff member.
Referral: Permission from a primary care doctor or other healthcare provider that allows a patient to see a specialist for specific treatment.

ACTION TIMELINE

11 EVENTS

DEC 19, 25

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

FLOOR

DEC 19, 25

Received in the House.

FLOOR

DEC 19, 25

Held at the desk.

FLOOR

DEC 18, 25

Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.

FLOOR

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Committee Referrals

Veterans' Affairs CommitteeReferred

Dec 2, 2025

senate

Related Hearings

Hearings to examine S.124, to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for disciplinary procedures for supervisors and managers at the Department of Veterans Affairs and to modify the procedures of personnel actions against employees of the Department, S.201, to provide for a study by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on the prevalence and mortality of cancer among individuals who served as active duty aircrew in the Armed Forces, S.275, to improve the provision of care and services under the Veterans Community Care Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.410, to amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to improve benefits and services for surviving spouses, S.478, to amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from transmitting certain information to the Department of Justice for use by the national instant criminal background check system, S.607, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish an integrated project team to improve the process for scheduling appointments for health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.610, to expand the VetSuccess on Campus program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.611, to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve and to expand eligibility for dependency and indemnity compensation paid to certain survivors of certain veterans, S.654, 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, S.702, to require a study on the quality of care difference between mental health and addiction therapy care provided by health care providers of the Department of Veterans Affairs compared to non-Department providers, S.787, to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a commission to review operations at the Veterans Health Administration and submit to Congress reports with respect to that review, and for other programs, S.831, to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve telephone communication by the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.892, to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the repayment by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of benefits misused by a fiduciary, an original bill entitled, "Veterans' Claims Act of 2025", and an original bill entitled, "Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment and Support Act".

Veterans' Affairs Committee (senate)Mar 11, 2025

Transcript Video

Business meeting to consider S.275, to improve the provision of care and services under the Veterans Community Care Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.506, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to coordinate, navigate, and manage care and benefits for veterans enrolled in both the Medicare program and the system of annual patient enrollment of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.607, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish an integrated project team to improve the process for scheduling appointments for health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.610, to expand the VetSuccess on Campus program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.635, to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to recognize nurse registries for purposes of the Veterans Community Care Program, S.654, 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, S.702, to require a study on the quality of care difference between mental health and addiction therapy care provided by health care providers of the Department of Veterans Affairs compared to non-Department providers, S.778, to amend title 38, United States Code, to require a lactation space in each medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.787, to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a commission to review operations at the Veterans Health Administration and submit to Congress reports with respect to that review, and for other programs, S.800, to modify the Precision Medicine for Veterans Initiative of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.827, to extend and modify the transportation grant program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.831, to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve telephone communication by the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.879, to expand medical, employment, and other benefits for individuals serving as family caregivers for certain veterans, S.972, to amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs repays members of the Armed Forces for certain contributions made by such members towards Post-9/11 Educational Assistance, S.1139, to amend the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019 to modify and reauthorize the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, S.1245, to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand health care and benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs for military sexual trauma, S.1318, to direct the American Battle Monuments Commission to establish a program to identify American-Jewish servicemembers buried in United States military cemeteries overseas under markers that incorrectly represent their religion and heritage, S.1320, to direct the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to take certain steps regarding research related to menopause, perimenopause, or mid-life women's health, S.1383, to establish the Veterans Advisory Committee on Equal Access, S.1441, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to award grants to nonprofit entities to assist such entities in carrying out programs to provide service dogs to eligible veterans, S.1533, to amend title 38, United States Code, to make permanent and codify the pilot program for use of contract physicians for disability examinations, S.1591, to amend title 38, United States Code, to reorganize the acquisition structure of the Department of Veterans Affairs and to establish the Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation in the Department, S.2392, to increase, effective as of December 1, 2025, the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans, and S.2393, to authorize a major medical facility project for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2026 in St. Louis, Missouri.

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Improving Veteran Access to Care Act

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

SPONSORSHIP

ACTION TIMELINE

BILL INFO

READER REACTIONS

Discussion

Improving Veteran Access to Care Act

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

DEADLINES & DATES

GLOSSARY

ACTION TIMELINE

SPONSORS

READER REACTIONS

What do you think?

Discussion

MORE INFORMATION

Committee Referrals

Related Legislation

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