,,ii ,cal5d> ,no4 #bgb #aai? ,,congress 
#a/ ,session  ,s4 #fjg  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate 
,,( ,,! ,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,febru>y #ah1  
#bjbe,ms4 ,hassan 7= h]self1 ,mr4       
,boozman1 ,mr4 ,moran1 & ,mr4 ,blum5?al7
 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read    
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on       
,vet]ans' ,affairs  ,decemb] #b1        
#bjbe,report$ by ,mr4 ,moran1 ) an      
am5dm5t & an am5dm5t to ! title,strike  
out all aft] ! enact+ clause & ins]t !  
"p pr9t$ 9 italic  ,a ,,bill  ,to       
require ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs 
to e/abli% an integrat$ project team to 
improve ! process = s*$ul+ appo9tm5ts = 
heal? c>e f ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans      
,affairs1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort  
title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,improv+
 ,vet]an ,access to ,c>e ,act4  #b4     
,e/abli%m5t ( integrat$ project team (  
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs to improve
 heal? c>e appo9tm5t s*$ul+  7a7 ,9     
g5]al ,! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 
?r\gh ! ,vet]ans ,heal? ,adm9i/ration & 
! ,(fice ( ,in=mation & ,te*nology ( !  

,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 or any   
successor (fices or adm9i/rations (     
simil> function1 %all e/abli% an        
integrat$ project team to improve !     
process = s*$ul+ appo9tm5ts = heal? c>e 
f ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs4  7b7 
,purpose ,! purpose ( ?is section is to 
ensure ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs  
deliv]s to pati5ts & employees ( !      
,dep>tm5t 9 a timely mann] ! s*$ul+     
capabilities develop$ by ! integrat$    
project team e/abli%$ "u subsection 7a7 
to imm$iately improve deliv]y ( c>e1    
access to c>e1 cu/om] exp]i5ce & s]vice1
 & effici5cy ) respect to ! deliv]y (   
c>e4  7c7 ,objectives ,! objectives ( ! 
integrat$ project team e/abli%$ "u      
subsection 7a7 are ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,to   
develop or cont9ue ! developm5t ( a     
s*$ul+ sy/em t enables bo? p]sonnel &   
pati5ts ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans        
,affairs to view available appo9tm5ts = 
all c>e furni%$ by ! ,dep>tm5t1         
includ+-- 7,a7 available appo9tm5ts =   
all provid]s ( ! ,dep>tm5t2  7,b7       

available appo9tm5ts at all cl9ics1     
hospitals1 & o!r heal? c>e facilities ( 
! ,dep>tm5t2 &  7,c7 available          
appo9tm5ts at all (fices provid+ pati5t 
c>e )9 ! heal? c>e sy/em ( ! ,dep>tm5t1 
includ+ prim>y c>e & all =ms ( specialty
 c>e4  7#b7 ,to develop or cont9ue !    
developm5t ( a self-s]vice s*$ul+       
plat=m1 available = use by all pati5ts (
 ! ,dep>tm5t1 :i* %all-- 7,a7 enable su*
 pati5ts to view available appo9tm5ts & 
fully s*$ule appo9tm5ts = all c>e       
furni%$ by ! ,dep>tm5t1 includ+-- 7i7   
appo9tm5ts = all provid]s ( ! ,dep>tm5t2
  7ii7 appo9tm5ts at all cl9ics1        
hospitals1 & o!r heal? c>e facilities ( 
! ,dep>tm5t2 &  7iii7 appo9tm5ts at all 
(fices provid+ pati5t c>e )9 ! heal? c>e
 sy/em ( ! ,dep>tm5t1 includ+ prim>y c>e
 & all =ms ( specialty c>e2  7,b7 if a  
ref]ral is requir$ = an appo9tm5t1      
provide a me?od = ! pati5t to reque/ a  
ref]ral & subsequ5tly book an appo9tm5t 
if ! ref]ral is approv$2 &  7,c7 provide
 su* pati5ts ) ! ability to cancel or   

res*$ule appo9tm5ts4  7#c7 ,to create a 
process ?r\gh :i* all pati5ts ( !       
,dep>tm5t c telephonically speak ) a    
s*$ul] :o c assi/ ! pati5t to det]m9e   
appo9tm5t availability & c fully s*$ule 
appo9tm5ts on behalf ( ! pati5t = all   
c>e furni%$ by ! ,dep>tm5t1 includ+--   
7,a7 appo9tm5ts = all provid]s ( !      
,dep>tm5t2  7,b7 appo9tm5ts at all      
cl9ics1 hospitals1 & o!r heal? c>e      
facilities ( ! ,dep>tm5t2 &  7,c7       
appo9tm5ts at all (fices provid+ pati5t 
c>e )9 ! heal? c>e sy/em ( ! ,dep>tm5t1 
includ+ prim>y c>e & all =ms ( specialty
 c>e4  7#d7 ,to c>ry out su* o!r        
functions1 ov]sight1 metric developm5t &
 track+1 *ange managem5t1               
cross-,dep>tm5t coord9ation1 & o!r      
relat$ matt]s z ! ,secret>y det]m9es    
appropriate z x relates to s*$ul+ tools1
 functions1 & op]ations ) respect to    
heal? c>e appo9tm5ts furni%$ by !       
,dep>tm5t4  7d7 ,coord9ation )          
,electronic ,heal? ,record ,mod]nization
 ,program  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! integrat$   

project team e/abli%$ "u subsection 7a7 
%all c>ry out ! objectives "u subsection
 7c7 9 consultation & coord9ation ) !   
deploym5t s*$ule & capabilities ( !     
,electronic ,heal? ,record ,mod]nization
 ,program ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans      
,affairs to ensure a smoo? transition to
 us+ ! tools & features1 :]e relevant & 
appropriate1 t may be creat$ pursuant to
 ?is section1 along ) ! features 9 !    
,electronic ,heal? ,record ,mod]nization
 ,program4  7#b7 ,rule ( con/ruction    
,no?+ 9 ?is subsection %all be con/ru$  
to require ! integrat$ project team     
e/abli%$ "u subsection 7a71 ! ,vet]ans  
,heal? ,adm9i/ration1 or ! ,(fice (     
,in=mation & ,te*nology ( ! ,dep>tm5t to
 def] or delay ! deploym5t ( s*$ul+     
capabilities requir$ by ?is section     
because ( future pot5tial plann$        
capabilities ( ! ,electronic ,heal?     
,record ,mod]nization ,program4  7e7    
,deadl9es  7#a7 ,e/abli%m5t ,n lat] ?an 
#ahj days aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is
 ,act1 ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 

?r\gh ! ,vet]ans ,heal? ,adm9i/ration & 
! ,(fice ( ,in=mation & ,te*nology ( !  
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 or any   
successor (fice1 %all fully e/abli% !   
integrat$ project team "u subsection    
7a74  7#b7 ,completion ( objectives ,n  
lat] ?an "o ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t
 ( ?is ,act1 ! integrat$ project team   
e/abli%$ "u subsection 7a7 %all complete
 ! objectives "u subsection 7c74  7f7   
,report on objectives ,if ! ,secret>y ( 
,vet]ans ,affairs det]m9es t an         
objective "u subsection 7c71 or any     
feature or s]vice 9 connection ) t      
objective1 _c be implem5t$ or o!rwise   
incorporat$ into a f9al product1 !      
,secret>y %all1 )9 #de days ( t         
det]m9ation1 submit to ! appropriate    
committees ( ,congress a report-- 7#a7  
detail+ t objective1 feature1 or s]vice 
& provid+ an explanation z to :y t      
objective1 feature1 or s]vice _c be     
implem5t$ or incorporat$1 z ! case may  
be2 &  7#b7 sett+ =? a plan = implem5t+ 
?is section )\t t objective1 feature1 or

 s]vice4  7g7 ,implem5tation reports ,n 
lat] ?an ea* ( "o ye> & two ye>s aft] ! 
date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !         
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all      
submit to ! appropriate committees (    
,congress a report on ! progress ( !    
,secret>y 9 fulfill+ ! requirem5ts ( ?is
 section1 includ+-- 7#a7 co/s incurr$ to
 implem5t su* requirem5ts z ( ! date ( !
 report2  7#b7 ! expect$ co/s to        
complete implem5tation ( su* requirem5ts
 7includ+ co/s = managem5t & te*nology72
  7#c7 ! s*$ule = deploym5t ( any       
capabilities develop$ by ! integrat$    
project team e/abli%$ "u subsection 7a72
 &  7#d7 goals & metrics a*iev$1        
*all5ges1 & lessons le>n$4  7h7 ,rule ( 
con/ruction ,no?+ 9 ?is section %all be 
con/ru$ to preclude or imp$e ! ability (
 a vet]an to contact or s*$ule an       
appo9tm5t directly ) a facility or      
provid] ?r\gh a non-onl9e s*$ul+        
process1 %\ld ! vet]an *oose to d s4    
7i7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is section3 7#a7    
,appropriate committees ( ,congress ,!  

t]m appropriate committees ( ,congress  
means ! ,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs
 ( ! ,s5ate & ! ,committee on ,vet]ans' 
,affairs ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives4   
7#b7 ,fully s*$ule ,! t]m fully s*$ule1 
) respect to book+ an appo9tm5t1 means t
 ! appo9tm5t book+ is complet$1 r ?an   
simply reque/$4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is   
,act may be cit$ z ! ,improv+ ,vet]an   
,access to ,c>e ,act4  #b4              
,implem5tation ( & report on ef=ts (    
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs to improve
 heal? c>e appo9tm5t s*$ul+  7a7 ,9     
g5]al ,n lat] ?an "o ye> aft] ! date ( !
 enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y (     
,vet]ans ,affairs %all submit to !      
appropriate committees ( ,congress a    
plan to improve ! process = s*$ul+      
appo9tm5ts = heal? c>e f ! ,dep>tm5t (  
,vet]ans ,affairs1 includ+ improvem5ts =
 bo? pati5ts & employees ( ! ,dep>tm5t  
responsible = s*$ul+ su* appo9tm5ts4    
7b7 ,elem5ts ( plan  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,!   
plan requir$ by subsection 7a7 %all     
include-- 7,a7 su* actions1 res\rces1   

te*nology1 & process improvem5ts z !    
,secret>y det]m9es necess>y to ensure ! 
,dep>tm5t a*ieves1 9 a timely mann]1    
improv$ deliv]y ( heal? c>e1 access to  
heal? c>e1 cu/om] exp]i5ce & s]vice     
relat+ to ! receipt ( heal? c>e1 &      
effici5cy ) respect to ! deliv]y ( heal?
 c>e2 &  7,b7 a propos$ s*$ule & timel9e
 to c>ry out su* plan4  7#b7 ,objectives
  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y %all ensure
 t ! plan requir$ by subsection 7a7     
addresses ! foll[+ objectives3 7i7 ,to  
develop or cont9ue ! developm5t ( a     
s*$ul+ sy/em t enables bo? p]sonnel &   
pati5ts ( ! ,dep>tm5t to view available 
appo9tm5ts = c>e furni%$ by ! ,dep>tm5t1
 includ+ prim>y c>e1 m5tal heal? c>e1 & 
all =ms ( specialty c>e4  7ii7 ,to      
develop or cont9ue ! developm5t ( a     
self-s]vice s*$ul+ plat=m1 available =  
use by all pati5ts ( ! ,dep>tm5t1 :i*   
%all-- 7,i7 enable su* pati5ts to view  
available appo9tm5ts &1 subject to !    
me?od provid$ "u subclause 7,,ii71 fully
 s*$ule appo9tm5ts = all c>e furni%$ by 

! ,dep>tm5t2  7,,ii7 if a ref]ral is    
requir$ = an appo9tm5t1 provide a me?od 
= ! pati5t to reque/ a ref]ral &        
subsequ5tly book an appo9tm5t if !      
ref]ral is approv$2 &  7,,iii7 provide  
su* pati5ts ) ! ability to cancel or    
res*$ule appo9tm5ts4  7iii7 ,to create a
 process ?r\gh :i* all pati5ts ( !      
,dep>tm5t c telephonically speak ) a    
s*$ul] :o c assi/ ! pati5t to det]m9e   
appo9tm5t availability & c fully s*$ule 
appo9tm5ts on behalf ( ! pati5t = all   
c>e furni%$ by ! ,dep>tm5t4  7iv7 ,to   
c>ry out su* o!r functions1 ov]sight1   
metric developm5t & track+1 *ange       
managem5t1 cross-,dep>tm5t coord9ation1 
& o!r relat$ matt]s1 includ+ improvem5ts
 to employee-fac+ in=mation te*nology1  
tra9+1 & processes1 z ! ,secret>y       
det]m9es appropriate z x relates to     
s*$ul+ tools1 functions1 & op]ations )  
respect to heal? c>e appo9tm5ts furni%$ 
by ! ,dep>tm5t4  7,b7 ,explanation (    
inability to implem5t c]ta9 objectives1 
features1 or s]vices ,if ! ,secret>y    

det]m9es t an objective "u subp>agraph  
7,a71 or any feature or s]vice 9        
connection ) t objective1 _c be         
implem5t$ or o!rwise incorporat$ into a 
f9al product pursuant to ! plan requir$ 
by subsection 7a71 ! ,secret>y %all     
include ) ! plan submitt$ "u su*        
subsection a report conta9+-- 7i7 an    
explanation z to :y t objective1        
feature1 or s]vice _c be implem5t$ or   
incorporat$1 z ! case may be2 &  7ii7 a 
plan = implem5t+ ! plan requir$ by      
subsection 7a7 )\t t objective1 feature1
 or s]vice4  7c7 ,implem5tation ,n lat] 
?an two ye>s aft] submitt+ to !         
appropriate committees ( ,congress !    
plan requir$ by subsection 7a71 !       
,secret>y %all fully implem5t ! plan4   
7d7 ,coord9ation ) ,electronic ,heal?   
,record ,mod]nization ,program ,9       
develop+ ! plan requir$ by subsection   
7a71 ! ,secret>y %all ensure t ! elem5ts
 & objectives ( su* plan set =? "u      
subsection 7b7 are develop$ 9           
consid]ation ( ! deploym5t s*$ule &     

capabilities ( ! ,electronic ,heal?     
,record ,mod]nization ,program ( !      
,dep>tm5t to ensure a smoo? transition  
to us+ ! tools & features "u su* plan z 
relevant & appropriate4  7e7            
,implem5tation reports ,n lat] ?an ea* (
 "o ye> & two ye>s aft] ! date on :i* ! 
,secret>y submits ! plan requir$ by     
subsection 7a71 ! ,secret>y %all submit 
to ! appropriate committees ( ,congress 
a report on ! progress ( ! ,secret>y 9  
implem5t+ su* plan1 includ+-- 7#a7 !    
co/s incurr$ to implem5t ! plan z ( !   
date ( ! report2  7#b7 ! expect$ co/s to
 complete implem5tation ( ! plan        
7includ+ co/s = managem5t & te*nology72 
7#c7 ! s*$ule = deploym5t ( any         
capabilities develop$ pursuant to !     
plan2 &  7#d7 ! goals & metrics a*iev$1 
*all5ges1 & lessons le>n$ 9 implem5t+ ! 
plan4  7f7 ,rule ( con/ruction ,no?+ 9  
?is section %all be con/ru$ to require !
 ,secret>y to include 9 ! plan requir$  
by subsection 7a7 any te*nology or      
process t w\ld preclude or imp$e !      

ability ( a vet]an to contact or s*$ule 
an appo9tm5t directly ) a facility or   
provid] ?r\gh a non-onl9e s*$ul+        
process1 %\ld ! vet]an *oose to d s4    
7g7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is section3 7#a7    
,appropriate committees ( ,congress ,!  
t]m appropriate committees ( ,congress  
means ! ,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs
 ( ! ,s5ate & ! ,committee on ,vet]ans' 
,affairs ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives4   
7#b7 ,fully s*$ule ,! t]m fully s*$ule1 
) respect to an appo9tm5t = heal? c>e1  
means t ! appo9tm5t book+ is complet$1 r
 ?an simply reque/$4  ,am5d ! title s z 
to read3 ,a bill to require ! ,secret>y 
( ,vet]ans ,affairs to e/abli% &        
implem5t a plan to improve ! process =  
s*$ul+ appo9tm5ts = heal? c>e f !       
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 & = o!r  
purposes44 ,decemb] #b1 #bjbe,report$ ) 
an am5dm5t & an am5dm5t to ! title