Veterans Affairs
AI won’t replace human claims processors, VA officials say, as Democrats worry over staffing levels
Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Ill., said some VA employees report claims processing technologies are producing incorrect information.
VA redesignates LGBTQ+ care coordinators and limits further ‘gender-ideology’ services
VA gave officials 14 days to comply with a June 12 memo that calls for facilities to take additional steps in response to previous executive orders on gender and diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
VA’s AI chatbots not designated high-impact, despite clinical use, watchdog says
VA’s Inspector General noted that the agency’s two internal chatbots “are not designed specifically for clinical use,” although they have been deployed for such purposes.
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.
VA CIO nominee vows to create program management office
Gary Shatswell, President Donald Trump’s pick to helm VA’s IT operations, told lawmakers creating the office is “one of the first tasks that I will be going after” if confirmed to the role.
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.
Federal agencies are rushing into AI without cleaning house first
COMMENTARY | The agencies that prepare their digital house first will get the productivity gains.
Lawmakers propose to establish AI guardrails for VA in FY27 funding
Reps. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., and James Walkinshaw, D-Va., are looking to address concerns about unregulated uses of artificial intelligence in separate amendments offered to the House Fiscal Year 2027 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Bill.
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.
After reductions, VA chief says facilities can 'hire where they need and what they need'
Those facilities must still operate within overall staffing constraints, however.
Trump nominates third VA CIO since the start of his administration
Gary Shatswell, a senior advisor to VA Secretary Doug Collins, was nominated by President Donald Trump to serve in the role of CIO and assistant secretary for information and technology.
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.
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AI is helping VA speed up claims processing, but Dems worry about errors
“Speed does not equal success,” Rep. Tim Kennedy, D-N.Y., said about VA’s use of automation and AI to process veterans’ benefits claims.
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VA has touted appointment wait time reductions, but new data shows a more mixed reality
A comparative analysis of select wait-time data for new patients at more than 100 medical centers indicates the department has made progress in some areas, but not all.
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.”
Trump’s FY27 budget proposes boosts and cuts to tech operations
Agencies like CISA, NIST and the IRS would see notable reductions in their budgets for next year, while programs at Energy and the VA would get additional financial support.
VHA, Labor Department tap Salesforce for critical modernization efforts
Both efforts center around the company’s agentic technology offerings.
Lawmaker looks to award grants for veteran suicide prevention AI models
Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Pa., told Nextgov/FCW that he wants to provide grant funding to figure out which risks “are the ones that we should be paying attention to most closely that contribute to incidents of suicide.”
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.
