Recently, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reviewed VA's scheduling process and identified specific challenges that the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has in ensuring that medical care appointments are scheduled in a timely manner. According to GAO, the Department's current policy for scheduling specialty care appointments at VHA facilities mandates they be scheduled within 3 business days from the date a provider enters a referral into the veteran's electronic health record.
H.R. 41, the VA Same-Day Scheduling Act, would require the VA Secretary to ensure when a veteran contacts the Department by telephone to schedule an appointment for care or services at any VA facility, the scheduling for the appointment occurs during that telephone call (regardless of the prospective date of the appointment being scheduled).
DAV supports the VA Same-Day Scheduling Act, in accordance with DAV Resolution No. 435, as it would improve current scheduling procedures and require real-time scheduling practices that ensure more timely access to VA health care services.
We call on all DAV members and supporters to contact their Representatives and urge them to co-sponsor and support H.R. 41, the VA Same-Day Scheduling Act.