Quick Hits

*** The Department of Veterans Affairs wrapped up a 12-week strategic review of the $16 billion Electronic Health Record Modernization program designed to replace its homegrown Vista health record software with a commercial product from Cerner that's also in use by the Department of Defense.

A VA spokesperson said the agency is "very close to finalizing changes to the EHR deployment effort to ensure that we come in on-time, on-budget, and -- most importantly -- provide the best care for our Veterans and the best experience for our providers." The review was instituted after users and other stakeholders complained about the training offered clinicians on the new software and issues with technical aspects of the new product in the initial rollout in Spokane, Wash.

*** The IG Independence and Empowerment Act, championed by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), passed the House of Representatives on a vote of 221-182 on Tuesday, with three Republicans joining Democrats in supporting the bill. The measure would limit the ability of presidents to remove IGs by establishing a requirement that can only be removed for a documented cause like a knowing violation of the law or abuse of authority. The bill also puts limits on who can serve as acting IG and gives the watchdogs new tools, including the ability to subpoena witnesses who aren't currently government employees.

*** A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced the Improving Digital Identity Act of 2021 with an eye to developing a new set of standards across federal, state and local government to support the authentication of digital identity and to create more security in the digital identity space. The bill is back by Reps. Bill Foster (D-Ill.), John Katko (R-N.Y.), Jim Langevin (D-R.I.) and Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.).