[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":71,"_73":71},"mediaId",6236511,"mediaKeyId","3357323-95ea8522d4723ebcd5164e327a266cc0","parentId",3357323,"title","EHR modernization and community care integration top committee questions as VA seeks faster, standardized systems","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",4192000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3357323-95ea8522d4723ebcd5164e327a266cc0&start=4192&end=4192","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3357323-95ea8522d4723ebcd5164e327a266cc0/thumbnail_4192000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6236511/EHR-modernization-and-community-care-integration-top-committee-questions-as-VA-seeks-faster-standardized-systems","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6236511-5a09d76557c322343d56344d0f8dde9a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770600367&Signature=QsUpbhd9U7H4z1Ro8XLi0Sn-2~m4BzD-zmWHLiw0JyQAaw6ccf9k3OdHqSUZtNU2TMmZWDW~EL3XMCanc8cyAXUJLV-rER9XF2NWkvHc3-DuoWaB1zJ7qxp0KgzF2SObpzudCEvuhs3ZrYWaal4BKQ2Qv6bDh2wYYYgvcFt~OZcSXK~QNqFAeRGqVTrnAjq6dUeQODAxG-XSibXq7f-0G803Cd4FhuXh9eWk-gXqKhd6tvu-RIUjTJMMCZWjZFuwqxSRqVe6ru6mYJC3qxrB2r0OcrbM3JFzltPT0ENDSP~3Pz7wM0PTfVnZR5c7YYn8v0n-QoKc~qmIr5Z3Xz1KHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","U.S. House Committee on Veterans' Affairs","date","2025-05-15T22:18:33Z","article","Members of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee pressed Secretary Doug Collins on how the Veterans Health Administration will accelerate and standardize its electronic health record modernization (EHRM) rollout and resolve long-standing interoperability gaps with community care providers.

Collins described the EHRM program as a “restart” and said his team had simplified governance to speed deployment; he said VA will standardize clinical configurations and push Oracle (the vendor) and VA clinicians to resolve differences more directly so more rollout sites can come online in the near term. Collins said the department has identified roughly 10% of VA workflows that are unique and that standardization would reduce committee layers that previously slowed decisions.

Lawmakers said long delays in sharing records between VA and community providers hamper patient care and slow community-care scheduling. Collins acknowledged extensive problems: he described a lack of two-way electronic communication with outside clinicians and gave examples of outdated workflows that involve faxes or compact discs. Several members suggested aligning EHR rollouts and community-provider scheduling efforts to reduce fragmentation and shorten wait times for appointments.

Members also asked how VA would encourage community providers to join the community care scheduling program so the external provider scheduling (EPS) tool will operate effectively. Collins said third-party administrator contracts for community care had been delayed and that VA was reworking RFIs and qualification standards to get better performance from contractors and administrators.

Committee members said they supported EHRM’s standardization but warned the department must ensure sufficient IT staffing and training at sites undergoing transition. Collins said he had asked deputy and program leads to accelerate site additions and that deputy-level management would focus daily on the program moving forward; he also asked Congress to sustain oversight and funding to finish the rollout reliably and safely.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Full Committee Oversight Hearing","oneSentenceSummary","Lawmakers pressed VA officials on the electronic health record modernization program and community care integration, asking how the department will accelerate implementation, improve interoperability with community providers and hold contractors accountable.","taxTitle","Veterans Affairs: House Committee, Standing Committees - House & Senate, Congressional Hearings Compilation, Legislative, Federal","taxId",1825,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":71,"_73":71},6236516,"Members question VA on clinical trials and research continuity after hiring freeze and personnel actions",218,7020000,7238000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3357323-95ea8522d4723ebcd5164e327a266cc0&start=7020&end=7238","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3357323-95ea8522d4723ebcd5164e327a266cc0/thumbnail_7020000.jpg","/articles/6236516/Members-question-VA-on-clinical-trials-and-research-continuity-after-hiring-freeze-and-personnel-actions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6236516-9a99d50022ab7ac47513be1e155e9d5d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770600367&Signature=AnVLQuCNcB5Vy-0kpOmV5WWhfMxjvupoV44Kg8gvQlqjfCtX8A-954xLHc589Ki~yWJc1oCrdPVQYtr6-Yqvr452aoIjUoZV1LQueOmEj0MUzcr-Ej9GVoLVJHcP5luUioOQc~0wVgG~E~I-IYJdzOi0B7hRljx0gjcgLPkL2cR8djLU2LsE6Yarqcf5A4ypIsdMYzDILWq-ziZ~FqI4ju1Ugl-uMed6zRedo9~atrhLkuCnc202t3eBDDyR7DozCuY1Nkp54VTex9JV7tOvUfdPbWt~sRjwhk0Sbkiw2gjcJgJSyZVWYeFZSzizB7ZyqgPU1tnWYAF0iRyvg16vQw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of the committee raised concerns about reports that clinical trials and research projects at VA facilities were delayed or paused amid the department’s hiring freeze and staffing changes.

Representative Mikie Sherrill and others told the committee they had received reports that some trials — including studies involving advanced head and neck cancer and other conditions — had not started or had stalled their enrollment. Collins said the VA has more than 1,500 clinical trials underway and that the department does not centrally manage all extramural trials; he told the committee that the trials themselves had not been canceled by VA and that several that had not begun were now recruiting.

Several members pressed for a clearer, centralized accounting of clinical trial status and asked how veterans who relied on trials for access to experimental treatments would be protected. Collins said his office would clarify which trials were delayed, which were paused, and which had not started, and said the department needed better “command-and-control” visibility over clinical research conducted at affiliated institutions and through external partners.

Representative Conor Lamb and others also raised the question of whether clinical trial pauses were being treated as elective, “above and beyond” care. Collins clarified that clinical trials can be treatment for individual veterans but said that some public statements had been mischaracterized; he emphasized that VA had not halted or canceled clinical trials systemwide and that the department intended to ensure continuity for veterans enrolled in or dependent on trials.

Lawmakers asked Collins to provide a site-by-site accounting of clinical-trial activity and any personnel or contract actions that affected trial recruitment or conduct during the hiring freeze and personnel reviews. The committee signaled it would follow up to ensure research continuity and patient protections where trials offer direct therapeutic benefit.","Lawmakers pressed Secretary Collins about reports that clinical trials and research studies were paused or delayed; Collins said no trials were canceled by his office, but committee members asked for a central inventory and clearer management oversight of VA clinical research.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":71,"_73":71},6236520,"Lawmakers press VA over abrupt end to VASP and housing risks for veterans",164,3710000,3874000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3357323-95ea8522d4723ebcd5164e327a266cc0&start=3710&end=3874","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3357323-95ea8522d4723ebcd5164e327a266cc0/thumbnail_3710000.jpg","/articles/6236520/Lawmakers-press-VA-over-abrupt-end-to-VASP-and-housing-risks-for-veterans","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6236520-e92fc77974b4ba8bf2162a72cefdbe8a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770600367&Signature=HtIowGCxKaZ1GzNyAmolO2eJ~MkmAIpV7A28Ora9TQ1A4m~BwxjmoUzIDvqePjDD-wF9nD8NYum2U29zpkIpeObqALSHKTJmtR0sxG0InewqXvKB0SsTDq0stAxY9KZUWmbgzOy1DIfIp8SldC~CuW08FP2Ext~gbIBgf~OeBk1nrcngSRsk7L3oH0ASgGtYRxGsxw8SGi4sk2nQ9MF~m6aZpMHvC1SQ2UbK4gCjuptJRVjVfbw40O5dWkN3fQOIRaxB498OQ75TQkX4J8Lri~WVsftPkcutpbBl0LXejxrD2YQJ-WVPNyVQT09xzhcJPw5-FdDWpxjv92NuHzOH8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several members told the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee they were alarmed by how quickly the department posted the end to the Veterans Assistance Support Program (VASP) and by the reported short public notice to veterans who were trying to enroll.

Representative Chris Babin (R-TX) and other lawmakers described cases from their districts of veterans who were trying to use VASP as a last-resort stopgap to keep homes, and said they had been told the department posted plans to stop accepting lender applications on April 23 — days before the May 1 cutoff. Babin called for a moratorium on foreclosures while Congress works on a legislative replacement; Secretary Collins declined to commit to a moratorium and reiterated that VA stopped the VASP program because it had been funded by reprogramming mandatory funds in VBA and threatened to consume billions that should have gone to other statutory benefits.

Rep. Ben Cline and other members said the program was a “last resort” for veterans facing imminent foreclosure and urged rapid congressional action on a partial-claims bill (H.R. 1815 was mentioned on the floor). Collins said that veterans who were already enrolled in VASP remained on the program and that the department stopped accepting new applications as of May 1; he and several committee leaders urged Congress to pass partial-claims legislation to provide a long-term solution.

Lawmakers from states with large numbers of veterans at risk of foreclosure asked whether VA could pause foreclosures pending congressional action. Collins said he could not unilaterally create a moratorium and emphasized that Congress should act to authorize a legislative remedy for affected veterans. Several members said they would press colleagues in the House to move partial-claims legislation promptly.

Committee members also sought clarity about internal communications and how the public learned of VA’s plan. Collins said he would follow up with details on the communication timeline and reiterated that the stopping of VASP was a corrective action because the program had diverted funds intended for mandatory benefits.","Members pressed VA Secretary Doug Collins about the department's decision to stop accepting applications to the Veterans Assistance Support Program (VASP), the timing of public notice, and the potential risk of foreclosure for veterans awaiting an alternative program from Congress.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":71,"_73":71},6236525,"House Veterans' Affairs panel presses VA secretary on budget, proposed restructuring and workforce cuts",1655,815000,2470000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3357323-95ea8522d4723ebcd5164e327a266cc0&start=815&end=2470","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3357323-95ea8522d4723ebcd5164e327a266cc0/thumbnail_815000.jpg","/articles/6236525/House-Veterans-Affairs-panel-presses-VA-secretary-on-budget-proposed-restructuring-and-workforce-cuts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6236525-ecaa87d01f408b717943ec29aadcd24e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770600367&Signature=HesP0cv3FX4btWXycqXml0nMhSKtM0au52HufBceQcY86iXyLuV4OvGLSWOggRZMSOnSdp8MqLk~Y2nBSwsSO0j08igLxdmYaeP2y5n6mUdn9j7acNCOqiyaRF4ho7wv4NxeRjaxXX04A1JYo0yHVldNAjAfDKzC4fSe~LoNM0Z7BvOIzt9QMVhHV7zcCRWJreMmIL6uc9M2gB5AqurISHn~7Vr6t-drI~kLaVjqM9LaiHZqtU-yB6q4BDf3Bh8UlglNqFPYzvjyYDtdeFf0Cp9pFdjNLsJzLP31mXddCRp~pzwrg-cfVO0RnRMDjhPLCeuveVvPspvkzMtjghK-VA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House lawmakers and Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins spent hours debating the VA’s fiscal 2026 budget request and the administration’s review of the department’s organizational structure, with members demanding detail on which jobs could be cut and how veteran care would be protected.

The hearing’s most contentious theme was the administration’s stated goal to reduce overhead and reorganize VA operations. Chairman Mike Bost said the White House requested $187.2 billion for VA next year and framed the administration’s reorganization as a bid to improve delivery of care. “This is a more disciplined budget request focusing on delivery, not distraction,” he said. Ranking Member Mark Takano challenged the secretary on transparency and the potential effect on staff and veterans, telling Collins the department “has undermined” trust since he took office.

Secretary Collins said the department is examining its workforce to reduce bureaucracy and free clinical staff to provide care. He told lawmakers that roughly 300,000 positions have already been exempted from the hiring freeze and that the administration’s intent is to protect doctors, nurses and direct-care providers. Collins said VA’s total employment is about 465,000, including roughly 409,000 in Veterans Health Administration, and that VA has 28,000 physicians and about 91,000 nurses. He also reported a backlog of disability claims falling from about 260,000 to 200,000 — a roughly 21% reduction since he took office.

Members pressed for specifics. Several lawmakers said public reports and internal documents had circulated figures — including a commonly cited 83,000 job-reduction target — and asked for definitive plans, timelines and maps of which positions would be reviewed. Collins repeatedly said he would not furlough front-line clinical staff and that any staffing changes would proceed through standard statutory and notice processes; he also called some public documents “predecisional” and warned that leaks had contributed to fear among employees and veterans.

Lawmakers also questioned measures taken during the initial reorganization, including probationary terminations earlier in the administration that were later reversed. Several members pushed Collins to reaffirm protections for whistleblowers and to clarify how nondisclosure agreements are being used for staff involved in personnel reviews. Collins said that standard criminal-secrecy statutes (18 U.S.C. 1905) and whistleblower channels are preserved, and that the NDAs issued are aimed at safeguarding sensitive personnel processes, not blocking whistleblowing or inspector general access.

Members from both parties said they supported efforts to reduce red tape and improve efficiency but sought specific analyses showing savings without cutting care. Collins said the department would produce additional briefings and documentation to the committee and urged cooperation, repeating that VA’s stated goal is “veteran first” delivery of care.

Looking ahead, several lawmakers said they expect audits and GAO work to follow, and asked VA to provide precise implementation plans, timelines for any proposed reductions, and assurances that clinical staffing levels and patient-facing services would remain intact.","House members and VA Secretary Doug Collins debated a fiscal-year 2026 budget request and a plan to reorganize the department, with lawmakers pressing for specifics on potential workforce reductions, whistleblower protections and how care would be preserved.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

EHR modernization and community care integration top committee questions as VA seeks faster, standardized systems

Members question VA on clinical trials and research continuity after hiring freeze and personnel actions

Lawmakers press VA over abrupt end to VASP and housing risks for veterans

House Veterans' Affairs panel presses VA secretary on budget, proposed restructuring and workforce cuts