5 notes on VA's EHR funding

The House Appropriations Committee cleared its fiscal year 2018 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill June 12, allocating $65 million in funding to modernize the VA's EHR system.

However, the $65 million comes with restrictions. Under the bill, no more than 25 percent of the funds can be used until Secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin, MD, submits five key pieces of information to the House.

Here are the five details Dr. Shulkin must provide.

1. A "detailed explanation" of the solicitation the VA submitted to Cerner to develop its EHR.

2. A description of how the VA will ensure interoperability between the Department of Defense and other providers outside the VA. This explanation must also detail how the VA's new EHR will replicate MHS Genesis, the EHR Cerner developed for the DOD.

3. A "strategic plan" for the development and implementation of the new EHR system, including timelines, performance milestones and cost estimates.

4. An explanation of how the VA will manage the transition from its current homegrown EHR platform — called VistA — to the Cerner EHR. This plan should consider pilot programs and user training.

5. A plan for how the VA will maintain its current integration with the DOD's records during its transition to the Cerner EHR.

Click here to view the full draft of the bill.

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