U.S. Rep. Mike Bost of Illinois, the ranking member of the House Veteran Affairs Committee, has suggested scrapping the VA’s Oracle Cerner EHR system rollout if its issues are not resolved, Nextgov reported July 28.
The VA awarded Oracle Cerner a $10 billion contract in 2018 to implement their EHR system over 10 years; however, the rollout has been hindered by software outages, logistical delays and patient safety concerns. Samantha Gonzalez, a spokesperson for Mr. Bost, told Nextgov that he plans to introduce legislation related to the EHR rollout.
"The bill is in the drafting stage and the final product will depend on the initial progress, if any, that VA and Cerner make over the next few months addressing the serious problems at the initial rollout sites," Ms. Gonzalez said. "At this point, the ranking member is considering all legislative options, including reorienting or completely halting the project."