An official website of the United States government
The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.
The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you're connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and sent securely.
November 20, 2025


Veterans are now able to get earlier appointments using a new text messaging tool.
For many years, VA has used VEText to remind Veterans of upcoming appointments using text messages. We have been using this tool to offer Veterans a quick and easy way to confirm or cancel appointments ahead of time.
A new feature called Open Slot Management (OSM) has now been added to VEText. If a Veteran chooses to cancel an appointment, OSM allows us to offer that timeslot to other Veterans.
How does this help me get earlier appointments?
All our face-to-face primary care clinics and some specialty clinics now have Open Slot Management built into the scheduling software. If we have your mobile phone number in our records, we’ll automatically send you text alerts when you are scheduled for an upcoming appointment and an earlier appointment becomes available.
For you, the process remains the same; simply respond with the correct alphanumeric code and VEText will either reschedule or keep your current appointment, based on your response.
If you decide to reschedule, you are scheduled into the new appointment slot automatically and your previously scheduled appointment is cancelled. No further action is required from you.
OSM text messages are sent to multiple Veterans at the same time. The first Veteran to claim the open slot (via text message) will be booked into the earlier appointment. Don’t worry!  If the earlier appointment is no longer available, your currently scheduled medical appointment will remain active.
Text Example
FIRST NAME, your VA can see you sooner!
You are scheduled for an appointment with CLINIC at LOCATION on DATE at TIME.
AN EARLIER APPOINTMENT IS AVAILABLE ON DATE at TIME.
Reply:
R1 to RESCHEDULE with the earlier appointment
K1 to KEEP your original appointment
 
Want to take advantage of this new scheduling tool?
Veterans automatically receive these text messages as long as we have your current cell phone number and you have not opted out of the VEText Program. 
Not getting the messages? If you need to re-join VEText, text START to 53079.

source