VA EHR support contracts cut despite accelerated rollout plans

The Department of Veterans Affairs is cutting contractor support for its troubled electronic health record (EHR) modernization program while simultaneously attempting to speed up its deployment, raising concerns about potential impacts on veteran care.

As reported by Federal News Network, VA has terminated contracts with at least six service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses that were supporting the Oracle-Cerner EHR rollout. These cuts come as part of a larger initiative that has seen the VA cancel 585 contracts across various programs.

The timing is particularly concerning as VA Secretary Doug Collins recently announced plans to accelerate the EHR deployment schedule, aiming to launch at four Michigan sites by mid-2026 and complete all deployments by 2031. This acceleration comes despite the system's troubled history, which includes 826 major performance incidents since its initial launch in 2020.

Congressional oversight committees have expressed alarm at the seeming contradiction between accelerating deployment while reducing support staff. A congressional staffer interviewed by Federal News Network called it "a math problem that doesn't add up."

VA maintains recent contract terminations "will not negatively affect veteran care," though critics argue the reduction in support services could compromise the safety and efficiency of the EHR rollout. GAO projects that even under the accelerated timeline, 94% of VA medical centers will still be using the legacy system eight years into the modernization contract.