Hudson introduces bill to bring oversight to VA's electronic health records implementation

Hudson introduces bill to bring oversight to VA’s electronic health records implementation

U.S. Rep.Richard Hudson, R-8, recently introduced legislation to ensure veterans have access to seamless electronic health records across the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DOD) health systems.

The bill is bipartisan and called the Department of Veterans Affairs Electronic Health Record Advisory Committee Act, H.R. 4693.

“Veterans regularly come to my office with stacks and stacks of papers, service records and medical files,” Hudson said. “It’s almost 2020 – it’s past time for our veterans to have the best technology at their disposal, and my bill will ensure we have transparency and accountability to make this transition as seamless as possible for our veterans. My top priority continues to be providing veterans timely, accessible, and high-quality health care.”

Rep. Hudson introduced the bill with Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, D-MD.

“My team spends a lot of time cutting through needless bureaucracy and red tape for veterans who need to access their medical records — a process that can currently take up to six months,” Ruppersberger said. “Our nation’s heroes deserve a modern, efficient health care system that ensures they can access information when they need it most. This bipartisan bill will ensure that’s the case.”

Specifically, Hudson and Ruppersberger introduced H.R. 4693 to establish an independent, third-party oversight committee to help monitor the implementation of the VA’s new electronic health record system. It will establish an independent 11-member Electronic Health Record Advisory Committee to ensure that on-the-ground stakeholders continue to have a voice throughout this decade-long rollout.