What This Bill Does
This bill stops the Department of Veterans Affairs from carrying out the Electronic Health Record Modernization Program. The bill requires the department to shut down the office running this program and return veterans health facilities to using their previous computer systems within 180 days of this law taking effect.
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Who It Affects
- The Department of Veterans Affairs and its Secretary
- The Veterans Health Administration
- Veterans health facilities across the country
- Contractors working on the Electronic Health Record Modernization Program
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Key Provisions
- The Secretary of Veterans Affairs cannot run the Electronic Health Record Modernization Program (Sec. 1(a))
- Within 180 days, the department must abolish the Electronic Health Record Modernization Integration Office (Sec. 1(b)(1))
- Veterans health facilities currently using the new electronic health record system must switch back to using the Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture and the Computerized Patient Record System (Sec. 1(b)(3))
- The Secretary cannot expand the new electronic health record system to any facility that is not already using it (Sec. 1(c))
- The Secretary cannot use any optional contract periods under the Electronic Health Record Modernization Program, but the Secretary does not have to cancel existing contracts before they expire (Sec. 1(d))
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What Changes
If this bill becomes law, the Veterans Affairs department stops developing and expanding a modernized electronic health record system. Veterans facilities will return to their previous computer systems for patient records. The office managing this modernization program will be closed. Any remaining work from that office will move to either the Veterans Health Administration or the Office of Information and Technology.
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Important Definitions
- Electronic Health Record Modernization Program: A program to update the Veterans Affairs computer systems for patient health records
- Veterans Health Administration: The part of Veterans Affairs that provides health care to veterans
- Electronic Health Record Modernization Integration Office: The office responsible for managing this modernization program
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Effective Date
The law takes effect on the date it is enacted (becomes official). The Secretary has 180 days from that date to complete the termination activities (Sec. 1(b))
I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 608
To terminate the Electronic Health Record Modernization Program of the
Department of Veterans Affairs.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 27, 2023
Mr. ROSENDALE (for himself and Mr. BOST) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
A BILL
To terminate the Electronic Health Record Modernization
Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
2
SECTION
1.
TERMINATION
OF
ELECTRONIC
HEALTH
3
RECORD MODERNIZATION PROGRAM.
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(a) TERMINATION.—The Secretary of Veterans Af-
5
fairs may not carry out the Electronic Health Record
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Modernization Program.
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(b) IMPLEMENTATION OF TERMINATION.—Not later
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than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act,
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•HR 608 IH
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out the fol-
1
lowing activities:
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(1) Abolish the Electronic Health Record Mod-
3
ernization Integration Office.
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(2) Transfer any activities or functions carried
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out under such office that are not terminated pursu-
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ant to this section to the Veterans Health Adminis-
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tration or the Office of Information and Technology
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of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
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(3) With respect to each facility of the Veterans
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Health Administration that uses the electronic
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health record system implemented pursuant to the
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Electronic Health Record Modernization Program,
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revert the facility to instead use the Veterans Health
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Information Systems and Technology Architecture
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and the Computerized Patient Record System of the
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Department.
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(c) NO EXPANSION DURING IMPLEMENTATION OF
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TERMINATION.—During the period beginning on the date
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of the enactment of this Act and ending on the date on
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which the Secretary carries out subsection (b), the Sec-
21
retary may not carry out any activities to implement the
22
electronic health record system implemented pursuant to
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the Electronic Health Record Modernization Program at
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a facility of the Veterans Health Administration where
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•HR 608 IH
such system is not being used as of the date of the enact-
1
ment of this Act.
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(d) CONTRACTS.—
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(1) OPTIONS.—The Secretary may not exercise
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any option periods or optional tasks under any con-
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tract under the Electronic Health Record Mod-
6
ernization Program.
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(2) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this
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section may be construed to require the Secretary to
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terminate any contract, task order, modification, or
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other similar instrument, under the Electronic
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Health Record Modernization Program before the
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expiration of the period of performance of such con-
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tract, task order, modification, or other similar in-
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strument.
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(e) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—
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(1) OVERSIGHT
OF
ELECTRONIC
HEALTH
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RECORD MODERNIZATION PROGRAM.—Section 503 of
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the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018
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(Public Law 115–407; 38 U.S.C. 5701 note prec.) is
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repealed.
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(2) DEPARTMENT
OF
DEFENSE-DEPARTMENT
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OF VETERANS AFFAIRS INTERAGENCY PROGRAM OF-
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FICE.—Section 1635(c) of the Wounded Warrior Act
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•HR 608 IH
(title XVI of Public Law 110–181; 10 U.S.C. 1071
1
note) is amended—
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(A) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘and the
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Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs’’;
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(B) in paragraph (4)—
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(i) in subparagraph (A)—
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(I) by striking ‘‘, with the con-
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currence of the Secretary of Veterans
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Affairs,’’; and
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(II) by striking the second sen-
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tence; and
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(ii) in subparagraph (B)—
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(I) by striking ‘‘Secretary of Vet-
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erans Affairs, with the concurrence of
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the’’; and
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(II) by striking the second sen-
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tence; and
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(C) by striking ‘‘and the Secretary of Vet-
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erans Affairs shall jointly’’ each place it ap-
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pears and inserting ‘‘shall’’.
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Æ
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