Maggie Hassan (D-NH)
Improving Veteran Access to Care Act
A Democratic bill with 2 Republican cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Held at the desk.
Passed one chamber, waiting for the other to take it up
Passed one chamber, and the other has not yet sent it to a committee or put it on its calendar.
The other chamber will hand it to a committee, place it on its calendar, or leave it where it is. Nothing has been decided, and a bill can sit here indefinitely.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- Passed Senate unanimous consent
- Awaiting House
The Senate by unanimous consent (no one objected, so there was no vote): no senator's position on it was recorded.
What this bill would do
The Improving Veteran Access to Care Act requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to create and execute a plan to improve health care appointment scheduling. This plan must aim to improve delivery, access, customer experience, and efficiency for both patients and employees. It includes developing a system to view available appointments and a self-service platform for patients to book, cancel, or reschedule care. Additionally, the act calls for a process where patients can speak with a scheduler by telephone to book appointments. The Secretary must submit the plan within one year and fully implement it within two years of that submission.
Yes
- Scored +6
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
The bill directly improves the process for veterans to schedule health care appointments through digital and telephonic means.
- Scored +6
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
The act mandates the development of a new scheduling system and self-service platform to improve access to care.
- Scored +5
Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive?
The bill improves the delivery of health care services through enhanced scheduling efficiency and autonomy for veterans.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved Access and Efficiency: The plan aims to ensure improved delivery of health care, better access, and increased efficiency for patients and employees (Section 2(a)(1)(A)).
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Enhanced Patient Autonomy through Self-Service: The development of a self-service scheduling platform would allow patients to view available appointments and fully schedule care, including requesting referrals and managing appointments by canceling or rescheduling (Section 2(b)(2)(A)(ii)).
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Personalized Assistance via Telephone: The act requires a process where patients can speak with a scheduler over the phone to find availability and fully schedule appointments (Section 2(b)(2)(A)(iii)).
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Improved Transparency through Oversight: The Secretary is required to submit progress reports that include costs, deployment schedules, and achieved goals or metrics (Section 2(e)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Potential Implementation Gaps: If the Secretary determines certain objectives or features cannot be implemented, they may proceed with a plan that lacks specific intended services (Section 2(b)(2)(B)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The bill directly improves the process for veterans to schedule health care appointments through digital and telephonic means.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The act mandates the development of a new scheduling system and self-service platform to improve access to care.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill improves the delivery of health care services through enhanced scheduling efficiency and autonomy for veterans.
- 12/19/2025
- Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Held at the desk.
- Received in the House.
- 12/18/2025
- Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.
- Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8898-8899; text: CR S8898-8899)
- 12/2/2025
- Committee 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.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 272.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 7/30/2025
- Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- 3/11/2025
- Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-35.
- 2/18/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
3 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
John BoozmanRepublican · Arkansas
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Jerry MoranRepublican · Kansas