Veterans Affairs
VA to gradually expand medical AI scribe following successful pilots
The department is seeking to expand providers’ use of the technology with an enterprise contract in 2026.
Trump signs veterans benefits order calling for improved data sharing
The order instructs the departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense to conduct a broad review of information technology-related contracts to ensure greater interoperability.
House panel subpoenas Oracle heads over VA health record overhaul’s ballooning costs
The House Veterans’ Affairs Committee voted 19-0 to subpoena Oracle Chairman and Co-founder Larry Ellison and Oracle CEO Mike Sicilia after VA announced plans to boost its contract with the tech giant by $17 billion.
Contractor may have used AI to falsify payment dispute financial documents, appeals board finds
A legal expert told Nextgov/FCW the possibility underscores how the federal government is “fully unprepared for how bad” AI-driven procurement fraud is going to get.
VA deploys new EHR at 3 Indiana-based medical facilities
The latest round of go-lives brings the total number of site rollouts this year to 11.
VA boosts EHR modernization contract with Oracle by $17B
The modified agreement raises the contract’s total value to just under $27 billion.
National crisis and support hotline operations remained consistent despite staffing cuts, watchdog found
Some staff operating mental health support hotlines at the departments of Health and Human Services and Veterans Affairs were subject to reductions in force last year and have not yet been replaced.
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.
Oversight and program management gaps slowing VA’s benefits processing system modernization, OIG says
The watchdog said cost estimate and project planning issues are among the top factors afflicting VA’s overhaul of its legacy Benefits Enterprise Platform.
VA awards Salesforce $1.6B contract for veteran care and services
The contract adds to existing Salesforce deployments for suicide prevention, health care communications and more.
VA expands use of extended reality tech across healthcare operations
Anne Lord Bailey, who leads VA’s Strategic Initiatives Lab, said veterans who have used immersive tech have reported therapeutic benefits that extend beyond the conditions being treated by the headsets.
VA wants more input on proposals to streamline benefits application forms
The Department of Veterans Affairs is sourcing feedback on two proposals to shorten the length of benefits forms but has thus far only received a total of nine comments since the recommendations were posted last month.
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.
