Newsbytes December 27, 2024

In this Issue: 
Congress Passes CR
VA Announces Next Phase of EHR Rollout 
FRA NHQ Closed on January 1 

Congress Passes CR
Congress has passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) extending government funding until March 14, 2025, ensuring that active duty military personnel continue to receive their salaries and benefits without immediate disruption. This stability is vital for military families, allowing them to plan without the fear of potential furloughs or service interruptions. 

For military retirees, this means their pensions and access to healthcare through programs like Tricare are secure. Veterans can continue to depend on VA services for healthcare and benefits processing. However, the Fleet Reserve Association supports the need for a full, actual budget to be passed. This would remove the anticipatory deadline, enabling all services provided to these groups to function without the constant threat of funding lapses. 

Veterans and their families benefit from the assurance that disability compensation, educational benefits, and other support systems are maintained. Yet, a complete budget would permit the expansion and enhancement of these services, addressing the needs of veterans more effectively and providing long-term stability. 

While the CR offers immediate relief, it is viewed as a temporary measure. The Fleet Reserve Association advocates a permanent budgetary solution to ensure that active duty members, retirees, veterans, and their families can rely on comprehensive, uninterrupted services, free from the cycle of short-term funding extensions. 

VA Announces Next Phase of EHR Rollout 
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced plans to expand its Federal Electronic Health Record (EHR) system to four Michigan facilities—Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Detroit, and Saginaw—with a target completion date of mid-2026. This comes after a pause in April 2023 to address significant system issues, including reliability and user trust. 

The VA aims to create a unified health record system across its facilities and the Department of Defense (DoD), promising improved access to accurate medical records and streamlined benefits management for veterans. Officials report system refinements during the pause have already yielded improvements. 

The rollout follows a costly journey, with billions spent and limited operational success, sparking debate about the program's execution. Critics point to inefficiencies and a lack of alignment with the DoD’s more successful EHR implementation. 

The Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) will monitor the progress closely, ensuring resources are used effectively and veterans receive the promised enhancements in healthcare and benefits access. 

Veterans remain cautiously optimistic, hoping for a system that simplifies their healthcare and administrative processes. The VA’s commitment to incorporating feedback from veterans and clinicians will be vital to achieving this goal. 

FRA NHQ Closed on January 1 
The FRA National Headquarters (NHQ) staff wishes everyone a very happy New Year! Our offices will close on Wednesday, January 1, 2025, in observance of New Year’s Day.