ProPublica: Trump’s Mar-a-Lago crowd oversaw $10B VA contract to overhaul EHRs
A new report from ProPublica reveals more information about President Trump associates and members of the Mar-a-Lago resort who have been involved in the oversight of the Department of Veteran Affairs’ multibillion-dollar effort to overhaul its electronic health records system.
Ike Perlmutter, chairman of Marvel Entertainment, Bruce Moskowitz, a West Palm Beach physician, and Marc Sherman, a lawyer, reviewed a confidential draft of the $10 billion government contract for the VA’s EHR project, according to newly released emails. The trio, who are part of President Trump’s circle at Mar-a-Lago, do not have any relevant expertise, according to ProPublica.
The involvement of the three men was uncovered by ProPublica earlier this year, leading to demands for an investigation by some lawmakers about influence in the VA by non-government workers. The VA consulted more than 40 outside experts on the contract, but the three men have not served in the U.S. military or government, and none have expertise in health information technology or federal contracting.
Their influence in the EHR overhaul has been called “wildly inappropriate” and “textbook corruption and cronyism” by lawmakers, ProPublica reported.
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Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."