DoD Loses Control Of Health IT Budget After Fumbling iEHR

The Pentagon has taken away the Military Health System’s toys after MHS leaders failed to play nice with billions of dollars allotted to developing an integrated EHR with the Department of Veterans Affairs.  Nextgov reports that budgetary control for health IT acquisitions has been shifted to Frank Kendall, Under Secretary of Defense for acquisitions, technology, and logistics.  The change is a “major blow” to the MHS, according to a government official, as Kendall “will exercise tight control and oversight” of the project from now on.

The decision is the latest evidence of widespread frustration and disappointment with a string of recent DoD actions that have delayed and stymied government efforts to modernize and integrate its healthcare system for active service members and veterans.  Even after a scathing Congressional hearing and a sharp rebuke by J. Michael Gilmore, Director of the Operational Test and Evaluation Office at the Pentagon, the DoD has still chosen to pursue various commercial EHR options [...].