Senate Allocates $3.3B for IT in FY 2010 VA Appropriations Bill

[CC-Conrad Clyburn-MedForeSight]

Colleagues,

As reported in iHealthBeat and NextGov ... the Senate approved a fiscal year 2010 appropriations bill for veterans programs and military construction programs that includes $3.3 billion for IT, the largest amount allocated for IT in the department's history ...

The appropriations bill's IT allocation includes:

* $1.6 billion for existing programs;
* $938.9 million for staff salaries and expenses; and
* $800.5 million for new programs.

Developing a common electronic health and benefits record system for the departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense will be a key project. The Senate also adopted a floor amendment to the appropriations bill that calls on VA to study how it can improve its IT infrastructure to treat veterans using telemedicine systems ...

Read on at: http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20091118_9523.php?oref=topnews

ENJOY!

CC