VA EHR Proposal Would Link Records With Private Providers

A new rule released by The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) aims to make it easier for the VA to share patient records via electronic health records (EHR) systems between the agency and private providers.

In order to allow for the open exchange of patient health information, the VA intends to “amend its regulations to clarify that a valid consent authorizing the Department to release the patient’s confidential VA medical records to a health information exchange community partner may be established not only by VA’s physical possession of the written consent form, but also by the health information exchange community partner’s written attestation that the patient has, in fact, provided such consent.”

This means that VA hospitals will be able to share information with providers, via EHR systems, without providing written consent from the patient—but instead simply by notifying the VA that the patient consented. 

Currently, the system for sharing information between VA providers and private providers can be cumbersome due to the need for written consent to share patient information electronically.

“This proposed rule would be a reinterpretation of an existing, long-standing regulation and is necessary to facilitate modern requirements for the sharing of patient records with community health care providers, health plans, governmental agencies, and other entities participating in electronic health information exchanges,” the Agency wrote.

According to the proposed rule, this revision should speed up the process by giving providers instant access to patient information during provider visits.

“This revision would ensure that more community health care providers and other community partners can deliver informed medical care to patients by having access to the patient’s VA medical records at the point of care,” the proposed rule states. —David Costill