Austin News

Washington, D.C. - Senators Ted Cruz, Rick Scott, and Jon Ossoff have introduced the bipartisan Scheduling for Community Health and Easy Data to Understand for Legislators to Evaluate Services (SCHEDULES) Act, aimed at ensuring timely access to healthcare for veterans. The bill, based on reports from the Government Accountability Office, would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a comprehensive standard for timing between referrals and appointments at VA facilities.

"Veterans should never have to wait a long time after a referral before receiving health care," said Senator Cruz. "We must ensure that the great Americans who dedicated themselves to protect us abroad receive essential care in a timely manner here at home."

The SCHEDULES Act would not only establish a standard timing between a referral and an appointment, but it would also require the Secretary of the VA to submit quarterly reports to Congress on the number of referrals that meet the standard. Additionally, VA medical centers would be ranked from best to worst based on their ability to meet the standard.

The bill has garnered support from several veterans' organizations, including the Blinded Veterans Association, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Disabled American Veterans, and the Wounded Warrior Project. These organizations recognize the importance of timely access to healthcare for veterans and have endorsed the SCHEDULES Act.

In a further effort to address the issue of lengthy delays in accessing care, Senators Cruz, Scott, and Ossoff recently sent a bipartisan inquiry to the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Denis McDonough. The letter expressed concern about veterans facing extended waits between referral dates and scheduled appointments at VA community care locations.

The SCHEDULES Act, along with the bipartisan inquiry, highlights the commitment of Senators Cruz, Scott, and Ossoff to ensure that veterans receive the healthcare they deserve in a timely manner. By addressing the issues of timeliness and access within the VA system, this legislation aims to improve the overall quality of care provided to our nation's veterans.