Stars and Stripes: McMorris Rodgers talks VA, Self-Scheduling

On Friday, House Republican Conference Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Congressman Seth Moulton (D-MA) introduced the Faster Care for Veterans Act of 2016, which requires the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to begin a pilot program incorporating commercially available self-scheduling technologies at VA medical facilities.

McMorris Rodgers and Moulton recently spoke to Stars and Stripes about the inspiration for the legislation, and how this proposal would be more efficient and affordable than agency-proposed alternatives:

“The VA’s electronic scheduling system was designed in the 1980s, an antique by technology standards, and was thrust into the spotlight in 2014 when it was revealed the department was manipulating it to hide long wait times for veterans seeking health care.

‘It is really encouraging the VA to look at off-the-shelf products that are available in the private sector,’ said McMorris Rodgers, who is a cofounder of the House’s military family caucus.

She said wait times at VA hospitals and clinics increased in 2015 instead of going down following the scandal two years ago and employing available technology would lead to faster appointments and better results.”

Click here to read the article in its entirety. And click here to learn more about the Faster Care for Veterans Act.