Technology Modernization Chairman Tom Barrett Leads Oversight Hearing on VA EHRM Program, Readiness for 2026

Technology Modernization Chairman Tom Barrett Leads Oversight Hearing on VA EHRM Program, Readiness for 2026

Today, Rep. Tom Barrett (R-Mich.), the Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Technology Modernization delivered the following opening remarks, as prepared at the start of the subcommittee's oversight hearing to evaluate the current readiness of the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM ) program prior to go-live at multiple sites in 2026. Building on the February 2025 EHRM oversight hearing, this hearing will examine new developments in the EHRM schedule, updates to the program's performance metrics, and refinements to site readiness and training processes.

Good afternoon. The Subcommittee on Technology Modernization will now come to order.

I want to thank our witnesses for joining us as we continue our oversight of the VA's Electronic Health Record Modernization program.

Today, we meet at a pivotal moment. In 117 days, this new system will be launching at four medical centers in my home state of Michigan: Detroit, Battle Creek, Ann Arbor, and Saginaw.

The timeline is locked in, the countdown is on, and one question remains: When the switch flips in April, will this system deliver?

For millions of veterans relying on VA hospitals, and staff supporting them, this is not theoretical. It is real. It is happening.

And it must go right!

Veterans expect more than just promises. Veterans expect safe, timely care. And we all expect systems that support our doctors, not work against them.

Technology should be a tool that opens doors, not a barrier that adds more clicks, more steps, and more frustration.

When we first met on this topic in February, VA was just emerging from a long pause, and while progress has been made since then, significant work remains.

VA has standardized over a thousand workflows into a national baseline with Michigan being the first to use it.

VA have tightened their timeline and, for the first time since the pause, we saw large system updates roll out this August without disrupting care.

Those are meaningful signs of life. However, we cannot ignore the red flags.

Behind the scenes, many tools slated for Michigan have never been tested on a large scale. Thirty-four new complex clinical workflows will debut there for the first time.

VA plans to test this across four sites simultaneously - a strategy that leaves zero margin for error.

We need assurance that this plan is feasible in the real world, not just on paper. We need to know that the lessons of the past have been learned, not just observed.

The user experience remains a concern.

While satisfaction is up slightly, more attention is needed. The Committee has heard from physicians that the critical functions system remains unstable.

We hear from VA pharmacists that tools for monitoring drug interactions are still a major pain point. VA staff are now burdened with more manual processes to ensure patient safety with drug interactions.

We need to know where those issues stand today, so Michigan clinicians and veterans are not left holding the bag on Day One.

And finally, we must address the sheer scale of the cost. This program began in 2018 as a $10 billion contract. It quickly ballooned far beyond its original price.

The latest estimate stands at $37 billion dollars.

We cannot keep writing a blank check that risks taxpayer money and slows down or worse, endangers the delivery of veteran care.

I am encouraged by the momentum. I am encouraged by the commitment of my friend Secretary Collins and the Trump administration team. But encouragement only goes so far. We need proof. We need transparency.

The clock is ticking down in Michigan, and the time for promises is over. The only acceptable result is a flawless go-live, because for our veterans, failure is simply not an option.

Thank you all, again, for being here today. I look forward to your testimony.

Before I yield, please be advised that the Chairman may declare a recess at any time.

With that, I yield to Ranking Member Budzinski for her opening statement.

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