Congress Presses VA for Transparency on Electronic Health Record Costs and Schedule

As the Department of Veterans Affairs gets ready to broaden its electronic health record (EHR) system to 13 more facilities in 2026, congressional leaders from both parties are calling for a revised cost estimate and a comprehensive deployment plan.

Lawmakers addressed a bipartisan letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins, referencing several reports from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) that advocate for a current financial analysis before the program's continued implementation. They cautioned that, lacking a dependable cost estimate, the VA may encounter budget overruns, project delays, and a decline in congressional trust.

Senate Veterans Affairs Committee leaders Sens. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) spearheaded the letter, featuring signatures from House Veterans Affairs Committee members Reps. Mike Bost (R-Ill.) and Mark Takano (D-Calif.), as well as appropriations subcommittee leaders Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.), Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Rep. John Carter (R-Texas), and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.). The group highlighted that earlier cost estimates—initially set at $10 billion and later revised to $16.1 billion—are now considered obsolete, particularly following a 2022 report from the Institute for Defense Analyses, which suggests the total cost could surpass $50 billion over a span of 28 years.

The VA intends to restart the implementation of the Oracle Health-managed Federal Electronic Health Record System in 2026, starting with four Michigan sites that were announced in January. On Monday, the department expanded that list by adding nine more facilities, which include centers located in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Alaska.

Officials from the VA have stated that the new system will enhance care coordination and the patient experience for veterans; however, lawmakers contend that transparency is essential before proceeding. A revised deployment schedule and updated cost estimate have been requested by September 30.

"This request is in line with ongoing demands for transparency and accountability, allowing Congress to thoroughly evaluate [the system’s] financial and operational preparedness," the lawmakers stated.

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