{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=5618", "Tester, Blumenthal Introduce Bill to Hold VA Accountable for Electronic Health Record Modernization Rollout [press_release]", "2017-11-02", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "MT", "Jon Tester", "T000464", "www.tester.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(U.S. Senate)\u2014U.S. Senators Jon Tester and Richard Blumenthal today introduced legislation to ensure the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) stays on target and is transparent in its plan to roll out a new commercial electronic health record system for nine million veterans. The Veterans\u2019 Electronic Health Record Modernization Oversight Act of 2017 requires the VA to provide a detailed plan about how it will ensure every veteran\u2019s medical records are available electronically and are easily transferrable between any medical facilities.  \u201cAs the VA brings medical records into the 21st Century, it must be a responsible steward of taxpayer money,\u201d said Tester. \u201cThis bill will hold the VA accountable, keep it on schedule, and bring more transparency to an important multibillion-dollar project. This transition will mean better health care for Montana\u2019s and America\u2019s veterans, but it requires accountability and efficiency that both veterans and taxpayers deserve.\u201d   \u201cThis bill will hold VA accountable as they roll out a new, multibillion-dollar electronic health record system,\u201d said Blumenthal. \u201cWhile this massive project will modernize VA\u2019s record system and improve care for millions of veterans, steps must be taken to ensure transparency and accountability for both taxpayers and veterans who will benefit from this new system.\u201d The legislation requires the VA to provide:\n \nA one-time comprehensive report on timelines, cost projections, risk management plans, and a plan for ensuring that the new record works with non-VA providers.\nQuarterly updates on the project\u2019s implementation noting changes from the initial plan.\nPrompt notice of delays, additional incurred cost, change in project scope, loss of clinical data, breach in patient privacy, disruption in patient care, or legal challenges.\n \nThis summer, the VA announced it would pursue the acquisition of the same electronic health records system used by the Department of Defense. It is estimated that rolling out the VA\u2019s electronic health records system will take about eight years and cost at least $16 billion. The Veterans\u2019 Electronic Health Record Modernization Oversight Act of 2017 is available online HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=5618"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.6072658579796553, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}