Advocate & Connect
Advocate and Connect for Rural Veterans
External Provider Scheduling (EPS)
Making local care more accessible for veterans through External Provider Scheduling
The External Provider Scheduling (EPS) initiative helps veterans access local care by allowing VA staff to schedule appointments directly through participating community providers’ scheduling systems. Streamlined local scheduling between the VA and individual providers reduces administrative workload and helps veterans receive care sooner.
With support from the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) and the Nebraska Rural Health Association (NeRHA), eligible providers can access reimbursable funding for implementation activities, including technical integration, workflow development, staff training and outreach. The initiative aims to expand access to care for Veterans across Nebraska while helping providers modernize scheduling and strengthen coordination with the VA.
How EPS works
VA staff schedule appointments directly in a participating provider’s system.
Less back-and-forth for both teams, with stronger coordination with the VA.
Veterans receive care sooner — and closer to home.
Our Impact
EPS Across Nebraska
Data as of [DATE] · Source: [VERIFIED PROGRAM DATA]
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Hospitals and clinics connected to EPS
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Nebraska counties reached
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Appointments scheduled through EPS
Appointments scheduled over time
Geographic reach
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Veteran Special Interest Group (SIG)
Connecting a Nationwide Network of Veterans Advocates
The Veteran Special Interest Group (SIG) is a national network of National Rural Health Association (NRHA) members working to improve healthcare for veterans, particularly in rural communities. Members share knowledge, identify best practices and develop policy recommendations and white papers to help strengthen the quality and accessibility of veterans’ care.
NeRHA Rural Veterans Committee
Bridging Community Providers and the VA
The NeRHA Rural Veterans Committee acts as a bridge between community providers and the VA. The committee promotes improved access, care coordination, timely reimbursement and effective issue escalation for Nebraska’s rural veterans.
Resource Library
Federal policy themes, evidence-based briefs and legislative developments — dated and sourced. Labels distinguish NeRHA positions, partner perspectives and factual legislative status.
[Replace with a Posts/Loop Grid filtered by category: Policy Briefs · Legislative Updates · White Papers · Ways to Participate]
[Policy brief title]
[One- to two-sentence summary.]
Published [DATE] · Source: [SOURCE]
[Bill number and short title]
Status: [Introduced / In committee / Passed] — [factual summary of latest action.]
Updated [DATE] · Source: [CONGRESS.GOV LINK]
[White paper title]
[Summary of the SIG workgroup’s findings.]
Published [DATE] · Author: [PARTNER]
Get Involved
Interested in Participating?
Interested in joining the Veteran Special Interest Group or the NeRHA Rural Veterans Committee? Tell us a little about yourself and a member of our team will follow up with next steps.
Are you a Nebraska hospital or clinic?
Find out if your organization is eligible for reimbursable EPS implementation funding. Email us at veteran@neruralhealth.org.
Are you interested in sponsoring an expo?
Email us at veteran@neruralhealth.org to learn about sponsorship opportunities for the Veteran A.C.E.D. Benefit Expos.