House Veterans Affairs Committee

The Veterans Benefits Administration announced plans to reset its implementation of portions of the Forever GI Act, but the approach sparked confusion from some lawmakers.

Lawmakers on the House Veterans Affairs Committee said they’re still looking for more answers about VA’s budget, staffing and leadership plans for its massive, 10-year electronic health record modernization effort.

A nomination hearing for chief information officer at the Veterans Affairs Department comes as half of senior leadership positions within the VA’s Electronic Health Record Modernization Office are empty.

New House Veterans Affairs Technology Modernization Subcommittee Chairman Jim Banks (R-Ind.) offered a preview of his oversight plans for VA’s electronic health record initiative.

In today’s Federal Newscast, the House and Senate could not agree on a provision in the 2019 defense authorization bill calling for $40,000 Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments for federal employees.

Preparations for a new appeals process at the Veterans Benefits Administration are two-thirds of the way complete, but IT upgrades have fallen behind.

House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Phil Roe (R-Tenn.) said he’s less concerned by the VA’s measure of disciplinary actions and more concerned about whether whistleblowers feel they can approach leadership with their concerns.

The Veterans Affairs Department has a shortage of medical professionals, but it also lacks the human resources expertise and flexibility it needs to bring top talent in more quickly.

The Veterans Affairs Department says it will begin deployment of a new electronic health record at three sites in the Pacific Northwest in October, and the system will be implemented at those sites by March 2020.

Lawmakers want to re-examine the structure of the Veterans Health Administration after a report the Veterans Affairs Inspector General referred to as “serious” and “disturbing.”