house Bill H.R. 1590
$50 Million Cash Prize for Inventing an Electronic Health Record System for Vets
Argument in favor
Veterans deserve to collect their benefits in a timely manner and outsourcing for private sector talent to create a better health record system is just the first step.
08/27/2015
Yes, but with strings attached. $50 is a lot of money. Whoever designs the system, also has to provide long term support for it, not just cash their check and disappear
12/13/2016
Kaiser Permanente, a gigantic Health Plan, having Hospitals along the coast of CA, WA, OR and CO. I can't say how many members they have, but I'm sure it's in the 100s of Thousands. I can't imagine the company who developed this software could not adapt it to the VA. Thus, this bill is not really necessary. The VA Administrator just needs to negotiate with software company. Remember the Obamacare web site that took years to make it functional and the $$Million$$ that went to good liberals to fix it? Almost like Solyndra, the Silicon Valley startup that collapsed, leaving taxpayers liable for $535 million in federal guarantees.
04/23/2015
Competitive enterprises such as this built the Transcontinental Railroad. The benefits are clearly there,
Argument opposed
The government already spent $1 billion trying to create the same system and failed. This contest lacks specifics on what the government wants developed.
06/27/2015
Sounds like a boondoggle. What went wrong with the competitive bidding previously used? Did it demand Union Contracts? Or Canadian software outfits whose chairman was a classmate of Michelle Obama's?
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06/25/2015
You have a right to medical privacy. These electronic records systems are not safe. They are not protected, and you have no way to opt out unless you just refuse care. It is unconstitutional. You are to be safe in your records!
The private sector already uses one!! Its call off the shelf.
Yes, but with strings attached. $50 is a lot of money. Whoever designs the system, also has to provide long term support for it, not just cash their check and disappear
Sounds like a boondoggle. What went wrong with the competitive bidding previously used? Did it demand Union Contracts? Or Canadian software outfits whose chairman was a classmate of Michelle Obama's?
Kaiser Permanente, a gigantic Health Plan, having Hospitals along the coast of CA, WA, OR and CO. I can't say how many members they have, but I'm sure it's in the 100s of Thousands. I can't imagine the company who developed this software could not adapt it to the VA. Thus, this bill is not really necessary. The VA Administrator just needs to negotiate with software company. Remember the Obamacare web site that took years to make it functional and the $$Million$$ that went to good liberals to fix it? Almost like Solyndra, the Silicon Valley startup that collapsed, leaving taxpayers liable for $535 million in federal guarantees.
Competitive enterprises such as this built the Transcontinental Railroad. The benefits are clearly there,
You have a right to medical privacy. These electronic records systems are not safe. They are not protected, and you have no way to opt out unless you just refuse care. It is unconstitutional. You are to be safe in your records!
There are excellent EHR systems available from the private sector for far less already available. EHR were supposed to 'talk' to each other and creating yet another new system will create more glitches and problems. Save tax payer money and go to private sector ready made EHR
Sounds like a waste of $$$. And a way to avoid doing something obvious & helpful immediately!
Vets need more comprehensive care, and outsourcing this step is a great idea - it will save money and be more effective. Overall this isn't much money and should be a bipartisan bill.
This will most likely turn into another big failure. What will occur after the purposed 5 year contract ends? I'm not very confident that this will bring in an actual good, operating system that is being gone after.
Another example of governmental ineptitude, waste, and catastrophic failure. The list waits are just a symptom of the real problem: that vets cannot get timely care.
No cash pay outs. Take bids as required and evaluate each proposal based on quality and exactly what's needed. Don't just get the cheapest bid as usual get the best quality system that meets all requirements.
Too much money is wasted in illusive things like this. I am 100% for taking care of our vets. Put the problem up for a college project and they could do it for almost free.
A worthwhile idea but put out for bids and see what private sector can develop at better cost - never enough money to go around and lots needed for education , health care , infrastructure , and more!
Last thing the veterans need is more private ownership of their health..
While I am sure this is needed, it should be part of a more comprehensive plan to improve govt data.