H.R. 8212House116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

ECHO Act

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Updated April 14, 2026 at 2:47 PM UTC

The VA Expanded Care Hours (ECHO) Act directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to study whether the Veterans Health Administration can offer appointments outside normal clinic hours, including via telehealth. The bill looks at both veteran preferences and employee opinions on alternative work schedules, aiming to improve access to care for eligible veterans.

Key Provisions

Within 180 days of enactment, the VA must study eligible veterans' attitudes toward receiving appointments outside regular operating hours, including telehealth options.
The same timeframe requires a study of the feasibility and advisability of offering extended‑hour appointments at VA facilities.
The study must also gather opinions from VHA employees—clinical, non‑clinical, and support staff—about working alternative schedules and providing after‑hours or telehealth appointments.
An "eligible veteran" is defined as someone enrolled in the VA patient enrollment system who has received VA health care at least once in the two years before the study begins.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

September 11, 2020

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

September 11, 2020

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

September 11, 2020

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued September 11, 2020

116th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 8212

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 11, 2020

Mr. Cunningham (for himself and Mr. Banks) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

A BILL

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct studies on alternative work schedules for employees of the Veterans Health Administration, and for other matters.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the VA Expanded Care Hours Act or the ECHO Act.

Studies on alternative work schedules for employees of Veterans Health Administration

(a)

Study of veterans

(1)

In general

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a study on the attitudes of eligible veterans toward the Department of Veterans Affairs offering appointments outside the usual operating hours of facilities of the Department, including through the use of telehealth appointments.

(2)

Eligible veteran defined

In this subsection, the term eligible veteran means a veteran who—

(A)

is enrolled in the patient enrollment system of the Department under section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code; and

(B)

received health care from the Department at least once during the two-year period ending on the date of the commencement of the study under paragraph (1).

(b)

Department study

(1)

In general

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall conduct a study on the feasibility and advisability of offering appointments outside the usual operating hours of facilities of the Department.

(2)

Study of employees

The study required by paragraph (1) shall include a study of the opinions of employees of the Veterans Health Administration, including clinical, nonclinical, and support staff, with respect to offering appointments outside the usual operating hours of facilities of the Department, including through the use of telehealth appointments.