VA EHR Project Scrutinized in New Report, Cybersecurity in the $1.5T Budget Bill
A new OIG report details problems with the VA’s EHR pilot project and an omnibus spending package signed by President Joe Biden contains several changes to cybersecurity practice for US infrastructure
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By - A recent report from the Office of the Investigator General detailed multiple issues that the VA experienced in a pilot test of its new EHR software. The report found critical problems with the software and made recommendations to the VA for addressing them.
Meanwhile, the federal spending bill signed into law last week aims to change current cybersecurity practices for healthcare organizations. And an FDA panel is preparing to meet next month to discuss the viability of additional COVID-19 booster shots and variant-specific doses.
What Went Wrong with VA EHR Project
An OIG report has detailed the challenges experienced at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) EHR pilot project. The EHR implementation at Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center created issues that led to data migration errors and inaccuracies in critical patient information.
The OIG report described the disruptions to provider workflows that have resulted in additional work and medical coding mistakes. The report did not indicate that the errors have led to any patient deaths, but it is recommended that all problems be addressed to increase patient safety. READ MORE.
Cybersecurity and the $1.5 Trillion Spending Bill
The omnibus spending package signed by President Joe Biden will strengthen the American Cybersecurity Act. The law also requires reporting cybersecurity incidents to the Department of Homeland Security within 72 hours of discovery. Stricter requirements for reporting will make tracking cybersecurity trends much more manageable and allow for quicker identification of significant vulnerabilities within critical infrastructure. READ MORE.
FCC Authorizes $640 Million Broadband Expansion
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced $640 million in funding to expand broadband internet access across the nation. FCC funds will be routed through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, which has previously distributed nearly $5 billion in funding to rural communications developers. Increased government assistance in these areas can connect patients to healthcare providers via virtual care platforms. READ MORE.
$66 Million in IL State Funding Goes to Access to Care
The Illinois Department of Health will contribute $66 million over five years to the Medicaid Innovation Collaborative (MIC). The non-profit focused on building a community-based healthcare system fosters collaborations between local community organizations and federally qualified health centers. Funding will allow for additional use of technology for virtual care, boosting health equity in underprivileged communities, and addressing a broader patient population. READ MORE.
FDA to Examine Fourth Booster
On April 6, a Food and Drug Administration panel will discuss the possibility of additional vaccine booster doses. Officials will consider the need for variant-specific vaccines and the future of booster doses, but they will not discuss current applications from Pfizer or Moderna. Pfizer’s CEO, Albert Bourla, recently pushed boundaries when he said that Americans may need an additional booster shot without expert agreement that the approach would be practical. READ MORE.
