U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) on April 11 introduced a bipartisan bill to establish an advisory committee to monitor the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) implementation of a new $16 billion commercial electronic health record system.
Sen. Blackburn cosponsored the VA Electronic Health Record Advisory Committee Act, S. 1154, with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), to ensure that 9 million U.S. military veterans have access to a seamless electronic health record across the VA and the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) health systems.
“A crucial part of giving our veterans better care is improving the way DOD and the VA organize their health records,” said Sen. Blackburn.
If enacted, S. 1154 would establish the independent, 11-member Electronic Health Record (EHR) Advisory Committee, which would be comprised of medical professionals, information technology and interoperability specialists, and veterans currently receiving care from the VA, according to Sen. Blackburn’s office.
The committee would be tasked with analyzing the VA’s implementation strategy, developing a risk management plan, and touring VA facilities as they transition to the new system, among other duties.
“The EHR Advisory Committee will be entirely devoted to ensuring the implementation and transition is done as smoothly as possible,” Sen. Blackburn said. “Comprised of professionals who have experience in the healthcare field, as well as veterans currently receiving care at the VA, this committee will have the knowledge and expertise to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the VA’s services.”
S. 1154 has been referred for consideration to the U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.