The VA VistA Screw-Up Bill

For reasons I cannot even begin to comprehend, Rep. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., has a bill (H.R. 2470) in the works that, among other things, would transfer management of the Veterans Affairs Department's Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VistA) electronic health record system from the VA to a VA/Defense Department Interagency Program Office (IPO), chartered to manage development of a joint electronic health record for both departments.

Thomas Murphy, director of compensation service at the Veterans Benefits Administration told a hearing of the House VA Committee today that language in the bill to "transfer all responsibility for 'development, implementation, and sustainment of all electronic health record systems and capabilities' away from VA to the IPO would create disruption and uncertainty in the management of the most vital set of tools VA uses to deliver world-class care for our veterans."

Elizabeth McGrath, Defense Department deputy chief management officer told the hearing that H.R. 2470 "would make the IPO the only office of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs responsible for electronic health record capabilities, including any such capabilities existing before January 16, 2008."

She said, "We believe that this would divert the attention of the IPO toward day to day management of legacy systems and make it less effective in what we view as its primary and proper function of developing the integrated electronic health record way ahead."

Hopefully the full VA committee will drive a stake through H.R. 2470.