Ernst Supports Bill Mandating Pilot Program For VA Scheduling

An internal audit, conducted in June 2014 by the Department of Veterans Affairs, found that more than 120,000 veterans waited at least 90 days for appointments for health care, or never received appointments. A new bill introduced by Iowa Senator Joni Ernst in conjunction with Democratic Senator, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, is meant to establish a patient self-scheduling appointment system at Veterans Affairs medical facilities. The bipartisan Faster Care for Veterans Act would direct the Secretary of the VA to commence this 18-month pilot program. “Our veterans deserve timely and quality care,” said Ernst. “The bill takes the needed steps to live up to that promise by implementing the long overdue program. While we still have work to do to address long wait times at the VA,” she added, “this legislation is an important step toward reforming and modernizing the VA appointment process to provide greater choice and faster service for our veterans.”