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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Congress is done waiting. The House Veterans Affairs Committee voted unanimously to subpoena Oracle's top executives — Larry Ellison and Mike Sicilia — after the VA's electronic health record modernization contract nearly tripled to $27 billion. With only 17 of 170 VA medical centers live on the new system since 2020, lawmakers are demanding answers on costs, delays, and accountability.
The House Veterans Affairs Committee has voted unanimously to subpoena Oracle Executive Chairman Larry Ellison and CEO Mike Sicilia after the VA's long-troubled electronic health record (EHR) modernization project saw its contract ceiling nearly triple — from $10 billion to $27 billion — with little to show for it. Adding to lawmakers' frustration: Oracle didn't send a representative to testify at the hearing, citing scheduling conflicts.
The project, originally contracted with Cerner in 2018 (Oracle acquired Cerner in 2022), has been marked by delays, outages, and technical failures. The VA paused the rollout in 2023 to renegotiate and address performance issues, resuming in April 2025. VA Deputy Secretary Paul Lawrence told lawmakers the program is now "back on track," but congressional skepticism remains high — particularly given that the Government Accountability Office reports the VA has fully implemented only 4 of 18 recommendations issued since 2020.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Taxpayer dollars and veteran healthcare are both on the line. With over 100 deployments still remaining and the initial $10B set to run out in early FY2027, Congress — and the public — want to know whether $27 billion will finally get the job done.
