Newly introduced bipartisan legislation offered by U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS) aims to bolster transparency of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) program.
Introduction of the VA Electronic Health Record Transparency Act of 2021, S. 3341, follows the release in July of three reports by the VA Office of Inspector General that raised concerns about how the EHRM program is deployed, according to the senator’s staff.
“This legislation ensures the VA is providing the proper transparency throughout the EHRM implementation to better allow this committee to conduct oversight during the deployment process to ensure veterans receive the care they deserve and hold the VA accountable for taxpayer dollars,” said Sen. Moran, referring to the U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, on which he serves as ranking member.
The Senate bill, which is sponsored by committee chairman U.S. Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), is companion legislation to H.R. 4591, introduced in July by U.S. Reps. Frank Mrvan (D-IN) and Mike Bost (R-IL) and approved on Nov. 16 by the U.S. House. Both versions are now under consideration by the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
“The VA, and consequently our nation, has invested a great deal of time and money into the VA Electronic Health Record Modernization program,” Sen. Moran said. “The potential benefits of this program are tremendous, but we have to get it right.”
If enacted, the measure specifically would require the VA to report on the costs of the program, including by describing all expenses driven by the program, according to the text of the bill.
“This commonsense bill is part of our ongoing push to increase accountability and transparency of this new program, and I thank Ranking Member Moran for working with me to ensure we hit the mark on behalf of veterans and taxpayers,” said Sen. Tester.
Among the lawmakers who joined Sen. Moran as a bill cosponsor are U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).