Democrats Demand VA Explain $17B Increase in Oracle EHR Contract
The top Democrats on the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs committees have asked VA Secretary Doug Collins to explain why the agency added $17 billion to its Oracle Health electronic health record modernization contract. In an Oct. 6 letter released Tuesday, Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Rep. Mark Takano raised concerns about transparency and cooperation with congressional oversight. VA disclosed the extension in August through a SAM.gov award notice, adding three one-year options to the existing 10-year, $10 billion deal.
"Blumenthal and Takano, the ranking Democrats on the Senate and House veterans committees, sent their Oct. 6 letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins; it became public Tuesday. They questioned why the Oracle Health contract’s ceiling grew by $17 billion and said VA had not adequately explained the cited “unanticipated complexities.” The August SAM.gov notice added three one-year options to a 10-year, $10 billion agreement. Lawmakers from both parties were surprised, and the House panel voted 19-0 to subpoena Oracle’s Larry Ellison and Mike Sicilia."
That's 83? Let's count. Paragraph 1 maybe 82. Need 2 short paragraphs under 120 total. Could split. But "under 120 words total" okay. Need entirely original wording, never copying source phrasing. Phrases like "unanticipated complexities" is quoted from source? It says never copying source phrasing. But quote is factual? Better avoid direct quote? We can say "the agency’s stated rationale involving unforeseen complications" but that's paraphrase. "Oracle Health contract’s ceiling grew by $17 billion" okay. "10-year, $10 billion agreement" factual. "SAM.gov notice" okay. "Larry Ellison and Mike Sicilia" names. "19-0" okay. Need no source phrasing. "ranking Democrats" maybe source. Fine.
Second paragraph: "VA has faced usability, technical and patient-safety problems since the system’s 2020 launch in Spokane. After pausing most rollouts in 2023, it resumed deployments this year, installing the software at 11 sites and planning two more