(March 14, 2025) – The Department of Veterans Affairs is enhancing the scheduling process for Veteran community health care appointments across Kansas through a new platform called External Provider Scheduling. This system allows VA schedulers to directly book authorized appointments into participating community providers' scheduling systems in real-time, eliminating delays caused by phone calls and faxes.
Veterans who rely on community care will experience faster access to medical services as the time between approved consultations and scheduled appointments is significantly reduced. EPS is particularly beneficial in rural areas of Kansas, where access to timely care has historically been a challenge.
Key Benefits of EPS for Kansas VA Schedulers:
- Real-time scheduling into community provider systems
- Elimination of redundant communication via phone and fax
- Reduced appointment wait times, ensuring faster care for Veterans
- Simplified referral and scheduling process, improving efficiency
- Ability to schedule multiple appointments in a single interaction
Key Benefits for Kansas Community Providers:
- Instant referral authorization, reducing administrative burdens
- Seamless integration with existing scheduling systems
- No additional costs or fees for participation
- Simplified processes for handling VA-referred patients
- Guaranteed payment, ensuring financial reliability
EPS is part of VA's ongoing commitment to improving Veteran health care access in Kansas. By leveraging this modernized scheduling system, Veterans across the state – whether in urban centers like Wichita and Overland Park or rural communities – can receive timely and coordinated care with greater ease.
To learn how you can participate, please email EPSProviderEngagementTeam@va.gov.
--Steve Poage