I go to the VA, and from what I can tell, they don’t have a fixed schedule — each doctor I’ve had has been different (there’s a lot of turnover, so I’ve had many pdocs). I don’t pay anything. And there is always the walk-in clinic available if there is an emergency or you need a med refill but forgot to make an appointment. Like many things at the VA, the quality of your care varies a great deal, even within a department, just based on what doctor you get. Some are amazing. Some make you want to hurl yourself into the wall.

Current pdoc: 25-30 minutes. I’ve never needed extra time, but I get the sense she would take whatever time she needed. Or maybe she is giving me extra time and I’m just not aware of it.
Next most recent pdoc: seriously, 3 minutes. I would sit down and she would ask the same 3 questions every. single. time. Very very nice lady, but really cavelier with her clinical skills.
Next most recent: WIERD GUY that would talk for 40-60 minutes every time. It wasn’t therapy or even anything productive. He would get in these long discussions about how he thought I would be a good nurse (?????) and that I should go back to school, and if I did, he would prescribe me Adderall to help. I do not have an attention issue that I am aware of. Then one day....he was gone.
Others before that: Ranged from 10 to 25 minutes. Some were very competent and helpful. Some did nothing but type on their computer while ignoring my presence