Chairman Bost Hosts Hearing on the Future of VA Healthcare for Veterans and Servicemembers, Electronic Health Record Modernization

Chairman Bost Hosts Hearing on the Future of VA Healthcare for Veterans and Servicemembers, Electronic Health Record Modernization

Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mike Bost (R-Ill.), delivered the following opening remarks, as prepared, at the start of the Full Committee's oversight hearing to examine the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) progress on the multibillion-dollar, years-long federal electronic health record modernization effort to ensure veterans and future veterans can access their health records through one, seamless system between VA and the Department of War so that every eligible veteran can receive the high-quality, modern care they deserve.

The Committee will come to order.

Without objection, the Chair may declare a recess at any time.

Good morning.

Thank you to our witnesses for being here as we conduct a status check of V.A.'s EHRM program.

Last year, the Subcommittee on Technology Modernization held several hearings to review how V.A. plans to execute its strategy for 2026.

As of today, the EHRM platform has been deployed across 11 sites under the accelerated, market-based rollout.

We are here today to ask how well that strategy has worked.

We need to understand what V.A. has learned before the next wave of deployments in 2027.

It is well known that I have been skeptical of the deployment of this system from the very beginning.

Past deployments were filled with cost-overruns and patients safety issues.

And to be clear, I still have concerns. But I also recognize the progress that has been made to modernize and improve V.A.'s health record system.

I am glad to see V.A. leadership taking these problems seriously. But that does not mean our oversight will stop.

This is a multibillion dollar, years-long effort.

Congress needs transparency.

Veterans deserve accountability.

I understand we are not done with the 2026 deployments yet.

Cleveland and Alaska are still scheduled to go live in October.

As V.A. prepares for the next sites, our goal today is simple:

We need a clear picture of where this program stands.

We need to know what it will cost going forward.

We need to know if V.A. is ready for what comes next in 2027.

V.A. recently extended its contract with Oracle Health because the original price tag was not enough to complete the rollout.

We have seen this story before. Time after time, this Committee has learned that V.A.'s first price tag is rarely the last one.

For years we have been asking legitimate questions about the full life cycle costs of this program and have still not received answers.

Before Congress funds additional work, veterans and taxpayers deserve to know why costs are rising faster than planned.

We can talk all day about IT systems, contracts, and technical terms.

But at the end of the day, this is about the veteran sitting in an exam room.

It is about making sure the medical professionals caring for our veterans have the best tools they need to provide the best healthcare in the world.

With that, I again welcome our witness and look forward to his testimony.

I now recognize Ranking Member Takano for his opening comments.

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