Secretary of Veterans Affairs Pushes for Increased Funding for EHR Modernization
During a recent Senate Appropriations Committee meeting, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins emphasized the importance of securing additional funding for the agency’s efforts to replace the outdated VistA electronic health record system with Oracle Health’s EHR. Collins stressed that momentum is crucial to successfully completing the transition and ensuring seamless integration with other federal partners.
Accelerated Rollout Plans
Collins outlined the VA’s ambitious deployment schedule, with plans to add up to 25 new VA medical center deployments in 2027, including 13 Oracle EHR deployments. The Trump administration’s FY26 budget requested $3.5 billion for the EHR Modernization program, a significant increase over previous funding levels, to support the agency’s modernization efforts.
In his testimony before lawmakers, Collins highlighted the benefits of transitioning to a modern, interoperable EHR system that will enhance care coordination and improve access to veterans’ medical records. He emphasized the need for accelerated rollout to meet the VA’s top priority effort and complete planned deployments in FY 2027.
Focus on Patient Safety and Usability
Collins acknowledged the challenges posed by the legacy VistA system, including patient safety concerns, system outages, and usability issues. He assured lawmakers that the VA is addressing these issues and holding Oracle accountable for delivering enhancements that meet clinicians’ needs, such as incorporating artificial intelligence capabilities.
Sean O’Connor, a veteran and healthcare technology expert, emphasized the importance of translating infrastructure improvements into tangible outcomes for veterans. He noted that a fully deployed, interoperable EHR is critical for improving care access and delivery for veterans.
Increased Funding for EHR Modernization
The House recently passed the FY26 MilCon/VA Appropriations bill, which includes $2.5 billion for the VA’s EHR Modernization program. The bill reflects a focus on additional deployments, site optimization, and supporting live sites, as well as ongoing development and rollout activities related to the EHR initiative.
The bill also includes provisions for regular reporting to Congress on deployment strategy, performance, costs, and integration with community care providers. Lawmakers expressed support for smart investments in healthcare for veterans and initiatives to modernize VA facilities to better serve veteran patients.
Overall, the VA’s push for increased funding and accelerated rollout of the EHR Modernization program signals a commitment to improving care coordination, access, and outcomes for veterans across the country.
For more information, please contact Andrea Fox, senior editor of Healthcare IT News, at [email protected]. Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS Media publication.
