Doug Collins also said the agency is “going to continue” with the implementation of its External Provider Scheduling tool.

The fiscal 2026 budget proposal calls for a $2.17 billion jump in funding for the VA’s troubled EHRM, and promises more DOGE involvement in agency IT systems.

The rollout of the agency’s electronic health record follows continued scrutiny of the system from Congress and other watchdogs.

VA Chief Acquisition Officer Michael Parrish earlier this week said his agency is working to add new enforcement mechanisms to the contract.

VA Secretary Denis McDonough said Monday that the department it is working through an implementation check list for each hospital set to receive the new system.

The outage affected VA, DOD and Coast Guard sites and left medical staff recording patient information on paper documentation.

The status update follows the VA's decision to delay the rollout of its electronic health record platform at four new locations.

A preliminary copy of the report was obtained by the Spokesman-Review newspaper.

The department’s inspector general says the VA in at least one case paid for work without verifying deliverables.

The department and the records provider are looking into a technical defect that mixed up patient data and resulted in the system being taken offline.