Veterans Community Care Scheduling Improvement Act
Description
This bill would require the VA to implement an electronic scheduling process for health care appointments and extend certain pension limits.
Summary
What it does
This bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish an electronic system for scheduling health care appointments within the VA and the Veterans Community Care Program. The proposal includes mandatory training for scheduling staff, the creation of performance metrics for the new system, and an outreach strategy to encourage private providers to participate. Additionally, the bill would extend the current $90 monthly pension limit for certain veterans in Medicaid nursing homes from January 2033 through June 2033.
Who is affected
This bill affects veterans who schedule health care appointments through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP), as well as VA employees and schedulers responsible for managing these appointments. Non-VA health care providers participating in the VCCP are also affected by new outreach strategies regarding the electronic scheduling process. Additionally, the legislation impacts veterans without a spouse or child who reside in Medicaid nursing homes by extending the $90 monthly pension limit through June 30, 2033.
Key provisions
- Electronic scheduling for VA and community care. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is required to implement an electronic process for scheduling health care appointments within two years of the bill's enactment. This system will cover appointments provided directly by the VA as well as those through the Veterans Community Care Program.
- Mandatory staff training and performance metrics. The VA must establish a mandatory training program for employees involved in scheduling to ensure proper implementation of the new electronic process. Additionally, the department is required to develop performance benchmarks and outcome-based metrics to evaluate the system's effectiveness.
- Provider outreach strategy. The bill directs the VA to implement an outreach strategy aimed at encouraging non-VA health care providers in the Veterans Community Care Program to adopt and participate in the electronic scheduling process.
- Extension of pension limitations for certain veterans. The legislation extends an existing $90 monthly pension limit for veterans without a spouse or child who reside in Medicaid-covered nursing homes. This limitation, previously set to expire in early 2033, is extended through June 30, 2033.
Fiscal impact
- H.R 3482, Veterans Community Care Scheduling Act· As ordered reported by the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs on February 12, 2026
Effective dates
The Department of Veterans Affairs must implement the electronic scheduling process within two years of the bill's enactment. Additionally, the bill extends the existing $90 monthly pension limit for certain veterans in Medicaid nursing homes from January 31, 2033, to June 30, 2033.
Relationship to existing law
This bill modifies the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP) by requiring an electronic scheduling process and extends an existing legal limitation on pension payments for certain veterans residing in Medicaid nursing homes from January 31, 2033, to June 30, 2033.
Stated purpose
The bill aims to modernize health care coordination for veterans by requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs to implement a standardized electronic scheduling process for both internal and community-based medical appointments. Additionally, it extends existing budgetary limitations on certain pension payments for veterans residing in Medicaid-covered nursing homes.