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Committee weighs bills to streamline community scheduling, improve access and expand residential mental health care
Summary
Senators and witnesses discussed bipartisan bills to improve veterans' access to care by upgrading scheduling systems, codifying community‑care access standards and protecting residential mental health programs.
Senators and witnesses at the Senate Veterans' Affairs hearing discussed bipartisan bills aimed at improving veterans' access to care in both VA facilities and the private community — with particular attention to scheduling systems and residential mental health programs.
In testimony, Mark Engelbaum of the Department of Veterans Affairs said the VA "strongly supports the Veterans Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Service Members Act of 2025 or the Access Act as it is known," subject to amendments and appropriations, and that the department is willing to work with the committee to refine technical language. Engelbaum also said the department "appreciates the committee's interest and focus on helping improve VA scheduling systems."
Senators and witnesses…
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