Timing for scheduling of appointments

(a) In general Subchapter I of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1706A the following new section: 1706B. Requirements for timing of scheduling of appointments (a) In general The Secretary shall ensure that an appointment for a veteran for care or services under this chapter, including under section 1703 of this title— (1) in the case of a non-urgent appointment, is scheduled (but may occur at a later date) not later than seven days after the earlier of the date on which— (A) a clinician of the Department determines that the veteran requires care; or (B) the veteran presents to the Department requesting care; and (2) in the case of an appointment for urgent care, is completed not later than 48 hours after the earlier of the date on which— (A) a clinician of the Department determines that the veteran requires care; or (B) the veteran presents to the Department requesting care. (b) Report on community care scheduling (1) In general Not less frequently than quarterly, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the average time it takes each medical facility of the Department to schedule appointments for care or services under section 1703 of this title, disaggregated by primary care, mental health care, and each type of specialty care. (2) Data included Each report required under paragraph (1) shall indicate what data for wait times for various types of care, services, or locations, if any, were not included in the calculation of the average times and why that data was not included. (3) Inclusion in existing reports The Secretary may include each report required under paragraph (1) in any existing report required to be submitted to Congress that relates to the same or a similar topic. (4) Analysis of reasons for noncompliance (A) In general Each medical facility of the Department for which any average time reported under paragraph (1) for the facility is more than seven days shall submit to the Under Secretary for Health, not later than 30 days after the date of the report— (i) an analysis of why such average time is more than seven days, including the extent to which staffing shortages of a type or position of employee, insufficient provider networks, surges of appointments, or any other factor is increasing such average times; (ii) a remediation plan to bring such average time to not more than seven days; and (iii) an explanation for how each issue specified in clause (i) is being mitigated. (B) Treatment of insufficient provider network With respect to any analysis under subparagraph (A)(i) that determines an insufficient provider network, the Under Secretary for Health shall— (i) consult with any third party administrator responsible for administering such network regarding— (I) if such network insufficiency has been previously identified, whether mitigation is planned for areas where average times exceed seven days; and (II) if such network insufficiency has not been previously identified or if previous mitigation plans have not worked, how network insufficiency can be overcome; and (ii) examine whether the third party administrator is meeting contractual obligations regarding network sufficiency.. (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1706A the following new item: 1706B. Requirements for timing of scheduling of appointments.. (c) Effective date The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall comply with the requirements under section 1706B of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), by not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.