Health Records
VA seeks to extend its Oracle health record contract through 2031
“This action is necessary to continue [electronic health record modernization] deployment activities and associated support services until all VA Medical Centers (VAMCs) and related facilities have fully transitioned to the EHR system,” the department said in a Sam.gov solicitation notice.
Federal agencies quietly joined health data superhighway governing council
The rapidly growing superhighway — known as TEFCA — will help federal agencies digitally obtain health records from thousands of hospitals, clinics and other medical providers.
VA deploys new EHR at 4 additional medical facilities
The latest round of go-lives comes as the Department of Veterans Affairs looks to speed up deployments of its new electronic health record system as part of an accelerated rollout schedule.
EHR modernization needs better cyber and privacy collaboration, GAO says
The Federal Electronic Health Record Modernization office needs to improve its interagency coordination to address potential privacy and security vulnerabilities in the new system, according to the watchdog.
EHR restart was ‘phenomenal’ despite persistent challenges at initial sites, VA secretary says
Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins told lawmakers the department has rectified issues with its electronic health record modernization project moving forward and is “going to go back” and address problems at its initial deployment sites.
VA still on pace with EHR deployment after rollouts earlier this year, officials say
Other agencies are also looking to iterate on their version of the electronic health record system being used at the VA and DOD — including by bringing it onto ships at sea.
House FY27 VA funding bill allocates $3.4B for EHR rollout
The measure, which was voted out of the House Appropriations Committee, withholds 25% of the funds for the EHR modernization project until July 1, 2027, contingent upon VA providing lawmakers with additional information and meeting performance requirements.
Senators demand OPM withdraw plan to access feds’ medical records
More than a dozen Democratic lawmakers warned that a little-scrutinized proposal to collect claims-level data related to the Federal Employees Health Benefits and Postal Service Health Benefits programs could violate federal law and doctor-client confidentiality.
VA resumes EHR rollouts at four Michigan medical sites
The Department of Veterans Affairs previously paused most deployments of its modernized electronic health record system in April 2023 following a series of performance and technical issues.
VA’s FY27 budget proposal seeks funding for additional AI adoption
VA’s decision intelligence and automation activities would see a 10.9% increase over FY26 enacted levels, with the growth “driven primarily by the AI Infrastructure solution.”
VA’s former EHR lead indicted for concealing contractor gifts
The Department of Justice alleges that John Windom accepted and sometimes demanded various gifts while helming the electronic health record modernization at Veterans Affairs.
VA’s latest AI inventory includes new suicide, EHR-focused use cases
Seventy-two of the AI use cases previously included in the department’s 2024 inventory were listed as retired, meaning that their “development and/or use has since been discontinued.”
VA secretary: EHR deployments are ‘going to be done in the right way’
VA Secretary Doug Collins told lawmakers they “have every right to be skeptical” as EHR go-lives resume in April but said the modernization project is back on track.
Featured eBooks
VA watchdog lists EHR modernization as a major management challenge
VA’s Office of Inspector General said “there remain 32 OIG recommendations that are not fully implemented” as the department moves to resume deployments of its new EHR system in April.
VA readies to restart EHR deployments in 2026, despite lingering lawmaker unease
VA and Oracle Health say the modernization project’s operational pause has allowed them to enhance the new software’s usability and effectiveness.
Lawmakers question VA health record’s costs and batched deployments
The agency is looking to deploy its new Oracle Health EHR near simultaneously at four Michigan medical facilities in April 2026.
The overlooked risk in government health IT modernization: protecting the legal medical record
COMMENTARY | Modernization, interoperability and AI will shape the future of government healthcare IT. But ambition must be matched with responsibility.
VA AI strategy says early use cases will inform adoption in new EHR
“As AI tools are validated and show worth, they will be incorporated into the EHR and many other information technology platforms through coordination between innovators and the teams managing those systems today,” the department said.
VA to focus on EHR deployment first, then innovative additions, official says
Dr. Neil Evans, who is currently overseeing VA’s deployment of a new EHR system, said one benefit of rolling out the Oracle Health software is “we can, in the future, more easily orchestrate and deliver an integrated technological experience.”
HHS promises 'an active enforcement stance' against health data blocking
The department said it plans to hold providers and IT developers accountable for limiting the use and exchange of electronic health information.
Change Healthcare attack delayed EHR testing at Chicago site, VA watchdog says
A joint VA-DOD rollout of a new Oracle Health electronic health record system occurred around the same time that UnitedHealth Group subsidiary Change Healthcare was targeted by a ransomware attack in February 2024.
