Veterans Affairs News 
Top News
- DoD to pursue commercial alternative to VA's VistA
- FedRAMP achieves another cloud security milestone
- OMB reworking financial systems to focus on outcomes, not inputs
- PHOTOS: Meet the 2013 Service to America Medal Finalists
- Causey: Today, everybody's a Sooner
- Star witness to stay mum for House hearing on IRS
- OMB director taps VanRoekel to lead management team
- Lew taps government retiree pension fund
- SBA starting new lending program for veterans
- New Apple devices cleared to join DoD IT networks
- Army prioritizes access to data in fight over intelligence IT system
- DoD upends slow approval process for mobile devices
- Senior execs' bonuses under fire at agencies
Mental health care not meeting VA standards
Veterans with mental health issues receive care comparable to that available in the private sector but the care falls short of standards set by the Department of Veterans Affairs, according to a new report. Dr. Kate Watkins, who conducted the study for the RAND Corporation, told Federal News Radio where VA has succeeded and where it has failed.
Did banks defraud veterans?
Bill Bransford, a partner at Shaw, Bransford and Roth joined the Federal Drive with Tom Temin and Amy Morristo discuss the latest developments in the case and what veterans should know about securing loans.
VA gives the go ahead to its 'ruthless' IT reduction plans
The agency's task force detailed potential areas to cut the cost of technology in a 104-page report sent to the chief information officer this week. Stephen Warren, VA's principal deputy CIO, said the agency expects to save at least $50 million over the next year.
VA funds ideas to help disabled vets get jobs
VA will test the use of the ideas in the agency's Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Program, according to a VA release.
VA gains granular view of impact of green IT
The Lebanon Medical Center in Pennsylvania is using a new dashboard to measure how it's implementing sustainability efforts. VA expects to save or avoid about $178,000 in the first year of the portal's use at the facility.
Top 10 agencies with telework issues
How does your agency compare to others when it comes to allowing employees to telework? The latest Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey gives some insight.
VA to slow-roll use of smartphones, tablets on network
Roger Baker, the Veterans Affairs Department chief information officer, said only about 1,000 users will have agency supplied devices that will be allowed to access VA systems. VA eventually wants to create an apps store where externally and internally developed software will be made available for doctors, nurses and other employees.
OMB wants agencies to 'own' their budget cuts
Office of Management and Budget Director Jack Lew said the White House will be less dictatorial and more collaborative in finding spending reductions that work for each agency, individually. Lew would not rule out further changes to federal employee pay and benefits. Agencies are encouraged to work with stakeholders, especially Congress, from the beginning of the process to what the cuts should be.
VA needs to tighten oversight of G.I. Bill
Three senators say the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill needs tougher oversight after new figures show a quarter of the program's funds went to just eight companies that run for-profit colleges.
Agencies' health IT success becomes model for nation
The Department of Health and Human Services wants more people to access their own medical records online. The Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services already have successful programs in place. They use a "blue button" feature that lets patients download their data.
Analysis: VisTA move to open source could start government trend
Ed Meagher, a former Interior Department CIO and deputy CIO and Chief Technology Officer at VA, explains why he supports VisTA's move to open source.
Agency financial systems still deficient
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee found agencies manually input data into grants, contracts and loan systems. The committee also said at least 10 agencies don't have good oversight of the data quality.
Tuesday morning federal headlines Sept. 6
On today's Federal Drive: Veterans Affairs announced it will release its open-source EHR code, SSA announces new rules on banned visitors and the USPS prepares to testify about its dire financial straits.
VA opening up its e-health record
The Department of Veterans Affairs celebrated the opening of the online portal where development on its electronic health record system will proceed using an open source model. The effort could fundamentally change the way the government tackles large IT projects, VA's chief information officer said.
VA: $2B paid in Agent Orange claims
More than $2 billion as been paid — so far — to Vietnam veterans and their survivors who filed claims related to Agent Orange, after the VA last summer added to the list of diseases thought to be related to exposure.
SAMMIES finalist streamlined access to VA health care
Todd Grams, acting Assistant Secretary for Management and Chief Financial Officer at the VA, is the leader behind work to cut costs and make access easier for beneficiaries.
Cool Jobs: The Veteran's Healer
Diane Phillips is the patient-centered care coordinator at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
Bring-your-own-smartphone becoming a reality
The Veterans Affairs Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are testing how employees' personal mobile devices would work on their networks. VA plans to start letting its workers use their smartphones on its network in October. CDC is focusing letting employees access only non-sensitive data.
VA seeks secure cloud-based collaboration tools
The VA has issued a request for information for secure cloud-based collaboration tools to head off the use of less secure web-based applications, such as Google Docs.
Wednesday morning federal headlines - August 17
On today's Federal Drive: VA's new social media policy, the Army restarts its cloud email migration and more buyouts at federal agencies.
