Improving Veteran Access to Care Act
Introduced Feb 18, 2025 by Sen. Margaret Wood Hassan
The Senate passed it. The House has to pass it before it can reach the President.
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish an integrated project team to improve the process for scheduling VA health care appointments. Among other objectives, the team must (1) develop or continue the development of a scheduling system and platform that enables personnel and patients of the VA to view available appointments for VA care, (2) create a process through which patients can telephonically speak with a scheduler who can assist in determining availability and scheduling, and (3) carry out other functions with respect to health care appointments furnished by the VA.
In carrying out its objectives, the team must consult and coordinate with the deployment schedule and capabilities of the VA’s Electronic Health Record Modernization Program.
If the VA determines a required objective or any feature or service in connection with an objective cannot be implemented or incorporated, the VA must report to Congress providing an explanation and setting forth a plan without that objective.
The VA must also report to Congress on the progress in fulfilling the team’s objectives under the bill.
Summary by the Congressional Research Service.
No recorded roll-call vote on this bill — it may have passed by voice vote or unanimous consent, which don't record individual votes.
- Dec 19, 2025Held at the desk.
- Dec 19, 2025Received in the House.
- Dec 19, 2025Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Dec 18, 2025Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8898-8899; text: CR S8898-8899)
- Dec 18, 2025Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.
- Dec 2, 2025Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 272.
- Dec 2, 2025Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Moran with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. Without written report.
- Jul 30, 2025Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- Mar 11, 2025Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-35.
- Feb 18, 2025Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- Feb 18, 2025Introduced in Senate