Electronic Health Records: Fiscal Year 2013 Expenditure Plan Lacks Key Information Needed to Inform Future Funding Decisions

Why GAO Did This Study. VA and DOD initiated the iEHR program with the intent of developing a single, common electronic health record system to replace their existing health record systems. However, the departments subsequently changed their approach and instead began pursuing separate efforts to modernize or replace their existing systems and ensure their interoperability. The 2013 appropriations act restricted the obligation of VA and DOD fiscal year 2013 funds for the development of iEHR to not more than 25 percent until an expenditure plan that satisfied statutory conditions, including being reviewed by GAO, was submitted to the Senate and House Appropriations Committees. GAO's objective was to determine the extent to which the iEHR expenditure plan satisfied six statutory conditions. To accomplish this, GAO analyzed the contents of the plan against the statutory conditions and applicable documentation, such as the President's budget, to determine whether the plan met the conditions. What GAO Recommends. GAO is recommending that the departments ensure that any future expenditure plans include verifiable and accurate budget, cost, and spending information; a deployment timeline that is consistent with an integrated master schedule; a data standardization schedule; and the basis for their assertion of compliance with acquisition rules, requirements, guidelines, and systems acquisition management practices of the federal government. In joint comments on a draft of this report, DOD and VA concurred with GAO's recommendation. Report to Congressional Committees.