Dive Brief:

• The VA has uncovered a violation of an appropriations law that led to the VA's $92.5-million appropriation for the development of its Health Care Claims Processing System, according to a report posted online by the agency.
• After the OIG's hotline received a tip that the VA's Chief Business Office might have misused medical support and compliance funds to build the processing system, it conducted an investigation. That review revealed the department broke the law by billing an administrative account for the funds instead of filing for the money via the Office of Information and Technology.
• The VA, which published the investigation's findings, recommended that the funds be returned, new oversight regulations be enacted and that the money be appropriated using the proper mechanisms. 

Dive Insight:

The investigation, kicked off by a tip to the OIG's hotline, should be a source of confidence that the VA is doing its best to run a tight ship. It's also a reassuring sign that the tipline is working as intended.

The VA seems likely to discipline those involved in the misappropriation who, according to the OIG, were trying to cut corners to avoid competing with other IT funding requests filed through the appropriate channels.

That being said, the VA will continue to have to watch health IT spending closely. After all, the pressure for health IT adoption and enhancement is not just felt in the private sector; there is a high level of pressure for health IT to be implemented successfully in government agencies as well. Publicly acknowledging that these pressures resulted in wrongdoing and reasserting control is an important step in maintaining the public's trust.