The House recently approved bipartisan legislation that U.S. Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX) supported to establish a pilot program for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities to use internet-based scheduling systems.
The Faster Care for Veterans Act, H.R. 4352, would establish a pilot program to test electronic scheduling for veterans over an 18-month period in response to long hold times and dropped calls under the current system.
”In the year 2016, there is no good reason that anyone should be stuck on hold for hours to schedule a simple doctor’s appointment — especially our nation’s veterans,” said Hurd, the chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Information Technology. “This inefficiency is one of countless systematic failures that would put a private-sector company out of business.”
The bill that Hurd co-sponsored with U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) also includes an option to extend the program after the initial 18-month period.
“We must do more for our veterans and I thank my colleague Rep. Moulton for his leadership on the matter,” Hurd said.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) highlighted the legislation after House passage on Tuesday.
“By giving veterans the ability to make and confirm their appointments online, we can increase transparency and put an end to the wait-time scandal that consigned so many veterans to unconscionable delays for medical care,” McCarthy said.