The Department of Veterans Affairs established a commission this week to recommend a new Veterans Health Administration undersecretary.
The official in question, a presidential appointee that must be confirmed by the Senate, would lead and manage the VHA . Part of the position’s duties would entail helping oversee its beleaguered electronic health records modernization project.
As reported by the Air Force Times, this will be the second time this year the commission has been gathered.
“We received information that there may have been some irregularities in the consideration of the previous slate of candidates and decided in an abundance of caution to start anew,” said Terrence Hayes, VA press secretary, in an email to Healthcare IT News.
WHY IT MATTERS
It’s been several years since the agency had a Senate-confirmed undersecretary for health.
The last person to hold the position was Dr. David Shulkin, who was appointed by President Barack Obama in 2015 and tapped to lead the VA on January 11, 2017. (Shulkin was then fired by President Donald Trump via Tweet in 2018.)
Dr. Richard Stone stepped in to temporarily lead the VA’s health operations in 2018, but left earlier this year after the White House said he was no longer being considered for the permanent post.
Dr. Steven Lieber is currently serving as acting undersecretary. It is not clear whether he is included in the slate of candidates up for consideration. The agency noted in a press release that candidates must have substantial experience in connection with the programs of VHA or similar programs.
“By law, the appointment is made without regard to political affiliation and solely on demonstrated ability in the medical profession, policy formulation, and health care administration and fiscal management,” said the release.
With an annual budget of $61 billion, the VHA is the country’s largest integrated health system, with more than 1,200 sites of care. It serves 9 million enrolled veterans each year.
“In addition, the VA healthcare system is a national leader in integrating multiple virtual care options, a capability that matured rapidly responding to the COVID-19 pandemic,” read the job posting.
THE LARGER TREND
The VA and its leadership have faced scrutiny over the past year regarding its Cerner EHR modernization program, which has hit multiple hurdles.
After being delayed for months, the initiative’s first rollout at the Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane, Washington, was met with concerns around provider dissatisfaction and patient safety.
Following a 12-week review and multiple OIG reports, the agency announced that no further rollouts would take place in 2021.
Still, the project is moving ahead: This past month, the agency allocated $134 million to Cerner for continued deployment activities.
ON THE RECORD
“The candidates should have a demonstrated ability to conceptualize and implement a vision, while being an advocate who can move an ambitious agenda forward to meet the needs of veterans,” said VA officials about the VHA undersecretary post.
Kat Jercich is senior editor of Healthcare IT News.
Twitter: @kjercich
Email: [email protected]
Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS Media publication.
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