H.R. 3482 — what changed

changed “(d) Program on scheduling appointments with Community Care providers by employees of the Department through information technology systemElectronic process

changed “(1) Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of the Veterans Community Care Scheduling Improvement Act, the The Secretary shall, instead of the shall implement an electronic process under subsection (a), carry out a program through which a scheduler of the Department—Department, using an information technology system, may schedule an appointment for health care furnished by the Department or through the Veterans Community Care Program, under section 1703 of this title, by a non-Department health care provider.

changed “(A) may schedule, for “(2) The electronic process under this subsection shall allow a veteran, an appointment—scheduler, with regards to appointments described in—

changed “(i) for health care furnished through the Veterans Community Care Program; “(A) either clause of subparagraph (A) of subsection (a)(1), to view, search, and sort such appointments by type of care, location, and date; and

changed “(ii) offered by a non-Department health care provider that participates in the Veterans Community Care Program and elects to participate in the program under this subsection; and“(B) clause (ii) of such subparagraph—

changed “(B) using “(i) to schedule such an information technology system.appointment;

changed “(2) The Secretary shall carry out the program under this subsection through an existing agreement if practicable.“(ii) to provide referral and authorization documents directly to a non-Department provider; and

changed “(3) The program under this subsection shall, with regards “(iii) to an appointment available with a Department provider or a non-Department provider that participates in perform any other function the Veterans Community Care Program, allow a scheduler—Secretary determines necessary.

changed “(A) “(3) The Secretary shall ensure that the electronic process allows a scheduler to view, search, and sort such appointments schedule an appointment for health care furnished by type the Secretary through a health care provider of care, location, and date;the Department.

changed “(B) to schedule such “(4) The Secretary shall implement the electronic process through an appointment;existing agreement if practicable.

changed “(C) to provide referral or authorization documents directly “(5) The Secretary shall submit to a non-Department provider; andthe Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives the following regarding the electronic process:

changed “(D) to perform any other function “(A) Not later than 90 days after the Secretary determines makes a determination under subparagraph (B)(iii) of paragraph (2), a briefing regarding the functions the Secretary has determined necessary.

changed “(4) “(B) Not later than 90 days six months after the date of the enactment of the Veterans Community Care Scheduling Improvement Act, and semiannually thereafter during the Secretary shall prescribe regulations under this subsection. Such regulations shall include following three years, a directive to employees at medical centers report regarding operation of the Department to use electronic process during both the information technology system under this subsection to schedule appointments described in paragraph (1) instead semiannual period preceding the date of the process under subsection (a) whenever practicable.report and the cumulative period since the date of the enactment of such Act. Such a report shall include the following for each such period:

changed “(5) Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment “(i) The number of the Veterans Community Care Scheduling Improvement Act, the Secretary shall plan and carry out an outreach campaign to encourage non-Department health care providers that participate in the Veterans Community Care Program to participate participated in the program under this subsection. Such outreach shall include the publication of a publicly accessible website of the Department regarding—such electronic process, disaggregated by—

changed “(A) details “(I) category of the program;hospital care or medical services provided; and

changed “(B) how a provider may elect to participate in “(II) medical center of the program; andDepartment;

changed “(C) a point “(ii) The number of contact in the Department regarding appointments scheduled pursuant to the program.electronic process, disaggregated by—

changed “(6) The Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House “(I) category of Representatives the following documents regarding the program under this subsection:hospital care or medical services provided;

changed “(A) Not later than 30 days after each determination described in paragraph (3)(D), a report regarding each function described in such subparagraph.“(II) medical center of the Department; and

removed “(B) Not later than 30 days after prescription, a copy of the regulations prescribed under paragraph (4).

removed “(C) Not later than 30 days after the Secretary formulates the plan under paragraph (5), a copy of such plan.

removed “(D) Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of the Veterans Community Care Scheduling Improvement Act and every six months thereafter during the following five years, a report regarding operation of such program during the six months preceding the date of the report. Such a report shall include the following:

removed “(i) The number of non-Department health care providers who participated in such program.

removed “(ii) The number of appointments under the Veterans Community Care Program, scheduled by a scheduler of the Department, disaggregated by—

removed “(I) whether the appointment was scheduled under such program or by the process under subsection (a);

removed “(II) category of medical services provided; and

“(III) month.

added “(iii) A comparison of the average wait time for appointments scheduled through the electronic process and through non-electronic methods, disaggregated by medical center of the Department.

added “(iv) The rates at which veterans cancelled appointments scheduled through the electronic process.

added “(v) The rates at which veterans did not appear for appointments scheduled through the electronic process.”

removed “(7) The program under this subsection shall terminate seven years after the date of the enactment of the Veterans Community Care Scheduling Improvement Act.”