Government & Policy

With federal spending priorities in flux, and VistA technology issues still to be ironed out, one expert parses out what we might expect in the weeks ahead.

The agency is calling on programmers and healthcare professionals to develop new tools to prevent addiction and track usage.

Sens. John McCain, R-Arizona, and Jerry Moran, R-Kansas introduced legislation Monday designed to modernize the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ healthcare system. The Veterans Community Care and Access Act of 2017 would require the agency to develop and implement a plan to create a high-performing integrated healthcare network and use objective healthcare demand data to create standards on access and quality. [Also: Feds say VA failed to report 90% of poor-performing providers] These standards would also identify and bridge gaps in patient care -- whether veterans receive care at the VA or community facilities. Further, the bill is aimed to improve collaboration with community providers and other federal agencies, by ensuring the agency promptly pays community providers and opens access to walk-in clinics. McCain and Moran also want to ensure the VA offers telemedicine and increases graduate medical education. [Also: Cerner DoD overhaul coming out in waves; VA deal means 'single system' approach] “The Veterans Choice Program was the first step in delivering on that promise, but much more needs to be done to provide all veterans a choice in when and where they receive care,” said McCain in a statement. To McCain, the bill will strengthen the program by “consolidating and streamlining the VA’s community care program.” “Since the creation of the Veterans Choice Program, Congress has repeatedly pushed the VA to make much-needed changes to its healthcare system,” said Moran in a statement. “Demand has demonstrated that veterans want and need healthcare options in their communities, but there must be reform at the VA to create a system that works for them.” Under the legislation, the VA would also incorporate aspects of recent VA bills that would protect veterans from receiving care from providers who’ve been fired, suspended and or had their license revoked. It would also clarify that the VA is allowed to share records with providers outside of the agency for the purpose of better care delivery. The bill comes in the wake of the care scandals in Phoenix and in other VA care locations across the country, according to McCain. It has support from the American Legion, AMVETS and Concerned Veterans for America. Twitter: @JessieFDavis Email the writer: jessica.davis@himssmedia.com

That goes for the way CMS serves its constituents as well as how it work with ONC in thinking about more usable and less burdensome EHRs.

The CMS Administrator talked about her personal mission to give patients a voice -- and better access to data they need.

The bill will require orgs to report breaches within 30-days of discovery and is intended to standardize breach notification laws.

As the department work to finalize its EHR modernization contract with Cerner, it extends a smaller deal for centralized claims management.

The informatics group calls for dedicated roadmap for standards, including a framework for how multiple standards should fit together to support data exchange.

Both sides of the aisle -- and even the former Eli Lilly exec himself -- expressed concerns over the ballooning drug prices and stressed the need to make pharmaceuticals more affordable.

State HIT Coordinator Carrie Paykoc said the plan aligns with national efforts and drives toward Colorado’s own take on the Triple Aim.