WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden signed into law bipartisan legislation introduced by Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Jon Tester (D-MT), and additional colleagues that will increase transparency in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Electronic Health Record Modernization Program.

“Service members make immense sacrifices to keep us safe, secure, and free, which is why we always must keep working to improve the health care that they receive when they come home,” said Senator Hassan, a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “This new bipartisan law will do just that by increasing transparency and accountability for the VA’s new Electronic Health Record program. I will continue to work across the aisle to support our veterans.”

Last summer, the VA Office of Inspector General released three reports that raised concerns surrounding the deployment of the VA Electronic Health Record Modernization Program. Two of the reports raised issues with cost estimates and reporting. The VA Electronic Health Record Transparency Act will hold the VA accountable and increase transparency by requiring the VA Secretary to submit periodic reports to Congress regarding the costs, performance metrics and outcomes for EHRM.

Hassan previously pressed VA Secretary Denis McDonough on the VA’s plan to ensure that VA health care professionals have consistent access to both old and new electronic health records so that veterans do not experience gaps in care.