SW Arkansas Times

Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04) has joined Congressman Scott Franklin (FL-18) as a cosponsor of the SCHEDULES Act, a bipartisan legislation aimed at ensuring timely treatment for veterans seeking specialty care at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Speaking about the importance of the bill, Congressman Westerman stated, "Veterans from the 4th District and nationwide have earned the right to receive the highest quality care, benefits, and services. It’s entirely unacceptable that veterans who risked their lives in service to our country are often left in painful and life-threatening situations, for sometimes weeks and months on end, while they wait for the VA to provide the care they need."

As a veteran himself, Congressman Franklin understands the challenges faced by veterans when navigating the VA, especially during a health crisis. He emphasized, "Far too often, vets suffer in painful or threatening situations waiting for a scheduled specialty care visit. That’s unacceptable. Veterans have earned the highest quality care, and Congress must hold the VA accountable to provide it quickly and reliably."

The SCHEDULES Act aims to address the issues highlighted by the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) in their 2020 report, which found that the VA failed to meet the standards for scheduling specialty care appointments. The report revealed that only 10% of VA Medical Centers were able to schedule more than 75% of their appointments within the standard timeline. Furthermore, the VA currently has no established standard for providing timely care once an appointment is scheduled.

Under the SCHEDULES Act, the Secretary of the VA will be required to establish a standard timeline for care from the moment a referral is entered until the veteran is seen for the related issue. The VA will also be mandated to report to Congress quarterly on their progress in implementing the new standard and provide transparency and a performance ranking of each facility.

The bill has garnered support from organizations such as the Blinded Veterans Association and the Wounded Warrior Project.

With the introduction of the SCHEDULES Act, Congressman Westerman and Congressman Franklin are taking steps to ensure that veterans receive the essential care and services they need in a timely manner. By holding the VA accountable and establishing clear standards, this legislation aims to improve the overall healthcare experience for veterans across the country.