The Improving Veteran Access to Care Act mandates the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to form a specialized team to enhance the scheduling process for VA health care appointments. This team is tasked with developing a user-friendly scheduling system that allows both VA staff and patients to see available appointments. It also aims to create a telephone-based service where patients can speak with a scheduler to book appointments. The team must work in coordination with the VA’s Electronic Health Record Modernization Program. If any objectives cannot be met, the VA must explain to Congress and propose a plan without those objectives. Progress reports to Congress are also required.
Media outlets have praised the Improving Veteran Access to Care Act for its focus on modernizing and streamlining the appointment scheduling process for veterans. The bill is seen as a critical step towards reducing wait times and improving access to necessary health care services for veterans. The integration with the Electronic Health Record Modernization Program is highlighted as a forward-thinking approach to ensure comprehensive and efficient care.
Critics of the Improving Veteran Access to Care Act have raised concerns about the potential challenges in implementing a new scheduling system and the associated costs. Some media reports question whether the VA has the resources and infrastructure needed to effectively carry out the proposed changes. There is also skepticism about whether the VA will be able to meet the reporting requirements and if the changes will lead to meaningful improvements in the veteran health care experience.
Based on the available data, the risk of conflict of interest in the case of S. 607: Improving Veteran Access to Care Act sponsored by Margaret Hassan is low. The top donor industries for Margaret Hassan are Health Professionals, Retired, Securities & Investment, and Government. However, there is no direct overlap detected between these industries and the subject matter of the bill. The bill is focused on improving veteran access to care, which does not directly benefit any of the top donor industries. Furthermore, the lobbying activity in this bill's policy area does not involve any of the sponsor's top donors. The largest lobbying expenditure comes from the National Education Association, which is not a top donor to the sponsor. Therefore, there is no clear money trail that suggests a conflict of interest.
Organizations that lobbied on issues related to this bill's policy area.
| Client | Lobbying Firm | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION | NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION | $670,000 |
| ACCENTCARE, INC. | ACCENTCARE, INC. | $235,000 |
| ACCENTCARE, INC. | ACCENTCARE, INC. | $235,000 |
| TD BANK, NA | GEOFFREY P. GRAY | $60,000 |
| FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK OF ATLANTA | GEOFFREY P. GRAY | $50,000 |
| CORELOGIC | GEOFFREY P. GRAY | $50,000 |
| WISCONSIN HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION | WISCONSIN HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION | $40,000 |
| RUSSELL INVESTMENTS GROUP, LLC | GEOFFREY P. GRAY | $30,000 |
| WELLS FARGO & COMPANY | GEOFFREY P. GRAY | $30,000 |
| RELX INC. | GEOFFREY P. GRAY | $30,000 |
| ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS COALITION | GEOFFREY P. GRAY | $30,000 |
| INTERNATIONAL SAFETY EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATION | INTERNATIONAL SAFETY EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATION | $30,000 |
| AMERICAN AIRLINES INC (FORMERLY REPORTED AS "AMERICAN AIRLINES") | GEOFFREY P. GRAY | $20,000 |
| JPMORGAN CHASE HOLDINGS LLC | GEOFFREY P. GRAY | undisclosed |
| TULE RIVER TRIBE | PATTERSON REAL BIRD & RASMUSSEN LLP | undisclosed |
Source: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings, 2026
Top industries funding Margaret Hassan, ranked by total contributions.
Source: OpenSecrets.org (Center for Responsive Politics)