Dive Brief:
- Rep. Phil Roe (R-TN) thinks the best way to ensure that the Department of Defense's upcoming $11-billion EHR is interoperable with the VA's Vista platform is to have a contest, in which the first DoD bidder to create an interoperable solution wins $50 million, reports Politico.
- Roe re-introduced a bill that offers the reward as a hedge against the possibility that the DoD might wind up with a high-priced EHR that still can't function with the VA's open-source platform.
- The DoD has stated on numerous occasions that its primary goal with their EHR is interoperability with the VA, but according to a Roe staffer, the agency is "missing the most important feature of a new EHR system—that it be compatible with the VA system so that service members can have a seamless transition from active duty to civilian life."
Dive Insight:
This seems like an off-the-wall idea, but it's not a joke. In fact, given private vendors' track record on interoperability, new approaches like this one may be what it takes to get it done. If the prize money can ensure that $11 billion of taxpayer money isn't spent on something that doesn't work, it's probably worth a try. After all, $50 million is pocket change when set against the chance of wasting massive dollars on EHR systems that don't talk to each other.
Want to read more? You may enjoy this story on how the DoD's choice of EHR will impact providers.