1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “VA Community Care Wait Time Transparency Act of 2020”.
VA Community Care Wait Time Transparency Act of 2020
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish goals for the timely delivery of medical care and appointments, to make publicly available certain information regarding wait times under the community care program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
2. Department of Veterans Affairs goal for timely delivery of appointments
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a goal for the maximum number of calendar days between the date on which a veteran requests an appointment for medical care and the date on which such appointment occurs. Such goal shall be the equivalent of the wait time access standard in effect under section 1703B of title 38, United States Code, and shall apply—
to medical care furnished by Department of Veterans Affairs providers and medical care furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs through a non-Department provider; and
with respect to veterans who are considered new patients and veterans who are considered returning patients.
3. Department of Veterans Affairs transparency regarding wait times under community care program
Publication of data— Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall make publicly available on an appropriate website of the Department of Veterans Affairs the following information:
The average wait times for new and returning patients seeking care under the community care program of the Department, determined using the same metrics used to determine the published average wait times for care furnished directly by Department medical facilities.
The percentage of appointments for care under the community care program that occur within the number of days specified for the wait time access standard applicable to Department of Veterans Affairs providers, as in effect under section 1703B of title 38, United States Code.
Presentation of data— Data made available under subsection (a) shall—
be presented in a searchable format, by zip code and by medical specialty; and
be presented alongside comparable data for all Department medical centers and all medical specialties.