“Congress has turned its attention to funding for a new year with a new administration, but in many ways the conversations about the budget at the Department of Veterans Affairs remain eerily similar to years past.”
“If the new administration gets its way, VA is on track for another record budget next year, nearly $270 billion, a 10% increase over 2021 funding levels. That’s after VA got a record $245 billion this year, plus emergency funding through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the American Rescue Plan…”
Funding grows for VA EHR modernization
“The Biden administration is recommending $2.7 billion for VA’s electronic health record modernization program, on top of $4.8 billion for the department’s Office of Information and Technology.”
“The 2022 request for VA’s EHR is $56 million above what the department received for the initiative this year. The department said the additional funding will support EHR deployment at additional sites, as well as infrastructure upgrades needed to support the new system at VA medical facilities.”
“The immediate path forward for the EHR, however, is still up in the air. VA is wrapping up the initial phase of its strategic review of the EHR program, which the department launched back in March after hearing concerns from staff on the ground at the first go-live site in Spokane, Washington…” Read the full article here.
Source: Pent up demand for VA services driving record 2022 budget request, agency says – By By Nicole Ogrysko, June 8, 2021. Federal News Network.
