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The Veterans Affairs Department's pharmacy system could put patient safety at risk due to interoperability limitations, according to a federal report. The system—which is part of the VA's soon-to-be-replaced electronic health record, called VistA—hinders pharmacists' ability to access patient data and to work with non-VA providers' prescriptions, according to the report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office. The agency recommends that the VA modernize its pharmacy services. The VA requested $7.7 billion in fiscal 2017 for these services. (Arndt, 6/19)

Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin told reporters Tuesday that in the future, private health care available to veterans may vary depending on where they live. “So health care is local just like many businesses are, so we’re asking each of our regions to do an assessment about what exists in their community and what exists in their VA services in their community, and come up with a strategic direction for that locality,” Shulkin said at the Christian Science Monitor Breakfast. The VA health care system is divided into geographic regions. (Mejdrich, 6/20)