The bill, called the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, was passed on Nov. 18. It included a section with proposals aimed at improving the troubled rollout of the VA’s new Oracle Health EHR system, but was later removed from the legislative package.
The removed proposals, according to the report, would have required the VA secretary to show that facilities using the Oracle Health EHR system had returned to or exceeded their previous operational performance levels before deploying the system elsewhere.
The VA would also have needed to provide Congress with quarterly reports on user adoption, employee satisfaction, and staff turnover at facilities using the new EHR system.
A spokesperson for the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee told NextGov that the section was cut during bipartisan negotiations due to “a lack of political viability” in both the House and Senate. However, the spokesperson emphasized that improving the EHR system remains a priority for the committee.
The VA has faced significant challenges in rolling out its new Oracle Health EHR system since signing a contract with Cerner, who was acquired by Oracle, in 2018 to replace its previous system. But, the project has been plagued by technical issues, cost overruns, and concerns about patient safety. So far, the new EHR system has been implemented at only six of the VA’s 172 medical facilities.
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.