VA removes interoperability liability in interim final rule
The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) has released an interim final rule to amend the regulation of the applicability of VA restrictions on disclosure of certain medical information to the Department of Defense (DoD).
The rule, published Oct. 20 in the Federal Register, removes a restriction that limited the scope of information that may be interchanged and shared between VA and DoD as “information pertaining to a person relating to a period when such person is or was subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice.”
“This restriction is narrower than the statutory restriction, and it impedes VA’s ability to share with DoD important medical information pertaining to veterans, so that we can coordinate their care and treatment,” the interim final continued.
The rule added that the restriction also impedes VA’s ability to fully engage in presidential and congressional-supported interoperability initiatives with DoD. “We note as well that this regulatory limitation was not intended to have these negative results on VA’s ability to provide high quality healthcare to veterans and, where applicable, to support DoD in similarly caring for service members and military retires,” the rule concluded.
Comments will be accepted on the interim rule until Dec. 19.
The rule, published Oct. 20 in the Federal Register, removes a restriction that limited the scope of information that may be interchanged and shared between VA and DoD as “information pertaining to a person relating to a period when such person is or was subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice.”
“This restriction is narrower than the statutory restriction, and it impedes VA’s ability to share with DoD important medical information pertaining to veterans, so that we can coordinate their care and treatment,” the interim final continued.
The rule added that the restriction also impedes VA’s ability to fully engage in presidential and congressional-supported interoperability initiatives with DoD. “We note as well that this regulatory limitation was not intended to have these negative results on VA’s ability to provide high quality healthcare to veterans and, where applicable, to support DoD in similarly caring for service members and military retires,” the rule concluded.
Comments will be accepted on the interim rule until Dec. 19.