[117th Congress Public Law 154]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 136 STAT. 1303]]
Public Law 117-154
117th Congress
An Act
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress
periodic reports on the costs, performance metrics, and outcomes of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Electronic Health Record Modernization
program. <<NOTE: June 23, 2022 - [H.R. 4591]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: VA Electronic
Health Record Transparency Act of 2021.>>
SECTION 1. <<NOTE: 38 USC 101 note.>> SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``VA Electronic Health Record
Transparency Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. REPORTS ON COSTS, PERFORMANCE METRICS, AND OUTCOMES OF
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ELECTRONIC
HEALTH RECORD MODERNIZATION PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Section 503 of the Veterans Benefits and Transition
Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-407; 38 U.S.C. 5701 note prec.) <<NOTE: 38
USC 5701 note prec.>> is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f);
(2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following new
subsection (e):
``(e) <<NOTE: Time periods.>> Quarterly Reports.--
``(1) Reports on costs of ehrm program.--Not later than 90
days after the date of the enactment of the VA Electronic Health
Record Transparency Act of 2021, and every 30 days after the
last day of each fiscal quarter thereafter until the termination
date specified in paragraph (3), the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of
the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the costs of
the Electronic Health Record Modernization program of the
Department of Veterans Affairs. Each such report shall include,
for the period covered by the report and for the total period
beginning on the date of the enactment of the VA Electronic
Health Record Transparency Act of 2021 and ending on the date of
the submittal of the report, a description of all actual
expenses of, and driven by, such program, including any such
expenses paid using--
``(A) any funds appropriated for the Department of
Veterans Affairs, for any source or account, expended by
any organizational element of the Department or by the
Federal Electronic Health Record Modernization Office
for the Electronic Health Record Modernization Program;
``(B) any funds, from any source or account,
expended by any organizational element of the Department
for physical or technology infrastructure modifications,
enhancements, improvements, or expansions at a facility
of the
[[Page 136 STAT. 1304]]
Department necessitated by, or related or pertaining to,
the Electronic Health Record Modernization Program; and
``(C) any funds, from any source or account,
expended by any organizational element of the Department
or by the Federal Electronic Health Record Modernization
Office for consultants, support contractors, or experts
related or pertaining to the Electronic Health Record
Modernization Program.
``(2) Reports on performance metrics and outcomes.--Not
later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of the VA
Electronic Health Record Transparency Act of 2021, and every 30
days after the last day of each fiscal quarter thereafter until
the termination date specified in paragraph (3), the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans'
Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on
the performance metrics and outcomes of the Electronic Health
Record Modernization Program. Each such <<NOTE: Lists.>> report
shall include, for the period covered by the report--
``(A) <<NOTE: Assessment.>> a list of the quality,
performance, safety, or value metrics, key performance
indicators, and other diagnostic or evaluation criteria
in use to assess the Electronic Health Record
Modernization Program and the electronic health record
system, in general and at individual facilities, with
respect to veterans, employees of the Department, and
Departmental operations;
``(B) an explanation of any change to any of such
metrics, indicators, and criteria compared to the
metrics, indicators, and criteria included in any
previous report submitted under this paragraph;
``(C) <<NOTE: Data.>> the data supporting or
demonstrating each such metric, indicator, and criteria
compared to the data supporting or demonstrating such
metric, indicator, or criteria as included in the
previous report submitted under this paragraph; and
``(D) a list of patient safety reports, incidents,
alerts, or disclosures at each facility of the
Department where the electronic health record system has
been implemented.
``(3) <<NOTE: Certification.>> Termination date.--The
requirement to submit a report under paragraph (1) shall
terminate on the date that is 90 days after the date on which
the Secretary submits to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of
the Senate and House of Representatives certification that the
Electronic Health Record Modernization program has been fully
implemented.''; and
(3) <<NOTE: Definitions.>> in subsection (f), as
redesignated by paragraph (1), by adding at the end the
following new paragraphs:
``(3) The term `electronic health record system' means the
electronic health record system implemented pursuant to the
Electronic Health Record Modernization Program.
``(4) The term `Federal Electronic Health Record Management
Office' means the office established under section 1635(b) of
the Wounded Warrior Act (title XVI of Public Law 110-181; 10
U.S.C. 1071 note).
[[Page 136 STAT. 1305]]
``(5) The term `facility of the Department' includes a joint
facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the
Department of Defense.''.
Approved June 23, 2022.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 4591:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
Vol. 167 (2021):
Nov. 16, considered and passed
House.
Vol. 168 (2022):
May 26, considered and passed
Senate.
<all>