House committee slashes Defense funding for electronic health records, satellite systems
By
Bob Brewin
Two House Armed Services Committee panels on Tuesday sharply reduced budgets for the next-generation electronic health record system and key Defense Department communications systems pending receipt of reports requested by the panels.
The Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee, in its markup of the 2012 National Defense Authorization bill, also directed Defense Chief Information Officer Teresa Takai to develop policies for the use of smartphone applications on military networks.
The Military Personnel Subcommittee in its markup put a potential speed bump in the way of development of a next-generation electronic health record system. It fenced off all but 10 percent of the requested budget until 30 days after Defense delivers a report that details a transition plans to a new system "that is cost-effective and interoperable." This language still needs approval by the full House and Senate.
The subcommittee also wants Defense to detail the process for selecting investments in information technology that support the next-generation system. Defense and the Veterans Affairs Department agreed in March to jointly develop a new electronic health record systems. An internal memo said the two departments will make the purchase of commercial software their first choice for development of a new system.
In its research and development budget, the Military Health System requested $86.7 million for the next-generation electronic health record. Through its IT procurement budget, it requested $772.8 million, which includes funding for the electronic health record. Defense did not break out procurement funds for the electronic record, but said the 2012 budget request represented a $90.4 million increase from 2011.
The emerging threats panel also expressed skepticism about Defense Information Systems Agency plans for a $440 million, 15-year lease of a single commercial satellite to serve troops deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The subcommittee said it would allocate only 20 percent, or $88 million, of the commercial satellite budget until 30 days after DISA delivers an assessment of why government satellites could not provide the same capabilities.
An executive for a commercial satellite company, who declined to be identified, said the subcommittee language "effectively kills" the commercial lease plan.
The emerging threats panel also limited the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency budget to $10 million of the requested $100 million for its Wireless Innovation Fund Project intended to maximize the use of Defense radio frequency spectrum. The rest of the budget will remain unavailable until DARPA provides a report that details how the fund will work, the project's governance structure and funding from interagency partners.
The panel noted the Army has an ambitious smartphone development program, but expressed concern that Defense "has not devoted sufficient attention to these efforts, and ... necessary policy developments to support these efforts have been lagging."
The subcommittee directed the Defense CIO to issue instructions within six months of passage of the authorization bill "to clarify the process for developing and using mobile applications on DoD networks." This policy, the subcommittee said, should include development, test, certification and accreditation standards for mobile applications.