***VIDEO FILE INCLUDED*** Rep. Susie Lee Questions Sec. Wilkie, Stresses Transparency on Status of VA Electronic Health Record Modernization Rollout
CLICK HERE TO WATCH ON YOUTUBE
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD VIDEO FILE
Washington, D.C. – Member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs (HVAC) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Technology Modernization, U.S. Rep. Susie Lee (Nev.-03) participated in a full committee hearing examining the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) proposed budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021.
As Chair of the Subcommittee on Technology Modernization, Congresswoman Lee has helped lead congressional oversight of the Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) project being jointly implemented by Departments of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Defense (DoD). The proposed FY 2021 budget provides $2.627 billion for the EHRM program.
On February 10, VA Secretary Robert Wilkie announced VA's plans to delay the "go-live" of the EHMR roll-out at the first site in Spokane, Wash., after which she called for a hearing to examine the status of the EHMR.
During her line of questioning in yesterday's hearing to Secretary Wilkie and other VA leadership, Rep. Lee reiterated the importance of implementing the EHRM in a timely manner, while also demanding full transparency from the VA on the progress, concerns, and timeline of EHRM implementation:
"I want to briefly talk about the postponement of the EHRM project. I think we've all had those conversations on how we have anticipated this is happening.
"From an oversight point-of-view, you take a serious risk in terms of being okay with postponement. So I hope we continue to have a transparent update, especially as the health information exchange goes live.
"I'd like to have an update at that point, as well as on June 5th at the time of your assessment date. Finally, highlighting that giving your practitioners the power to come to you with the freedom to say ‘ we're not ready'.
"It's also important to understand that there is a balance as well, and at one point you just have to rip the band-aid off and move forward with what you have.
"We all understand ultimately that veterans' care is important, and making sure that we're in constant conversation about that and what's going on [in terms of EHRM implementation] would be greatly appreciated."
BACKGROUND: In November 2019, Chair Lee led a hearing on the HVAC Subcommittee on Technology Modernization's continued oversight of the EHRM project being jointly implemented by VA and DOD. Leadership and accountability at both agencies continues to be a concern for Chairwoman Lee, as VA and DoD did not yet to materialize a comprehensive plan for EHRM management and implementation.
Before the August recess, the Subcommittee held two hearings on the implementation of the electronic health records (EHR) systems at the VA and DoD. On June 4, 2019, the Subcommittee examined the implementation from the perspective of the three prime contractors for the VA and DoD programs, Cerner, Leidos, and Booz Allen Hamilton. On June 12, the Subcommittee heard from the VA and DoD directly about the implementation and had an opportunity to address key concerns—especially joint governance and infrastructure. Additionally, the Subcommittee held a hearing on September 26, 2019, on the future of VA scheduling and the Cerner Scheduling Solution. On October 30, 2019 the Subcommittee, in conjunction with the House Armed Services Committee, held a roundtable to discuss the state of EHRM at both DoD and VA.
In June, the House of Representatives adopted three amendments introduced and supported by Rep. Lee to improve EHRM implementation by clarifying and enhancing the role of the VA and DOD Federal Electronic Health Record Modernization (FEHRM) joint program office responsible for EHR implementation. The amendments would create specific implementation milestones to ensure accountability and provide greater assurance that clinical and patient needs of our veterans guide the EHR implementation.