The first House VA Subcommittee on Technology Modernization hearing revealed that officials and congressional members are not on the same page when it comes to governance.The Interagency Program Office (IPO) has not fulfilled its legal mandate to be the single point of accountability between the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs interoperability efforts. But both officials and lawmakers cant decide who should reconcile the differences.The inaugural House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Technology Modernization hearing, held on Thursday, revealed, not surprisingly, governance and accountability are still major points of contention for the project.Government Accountability Office Director of Management Issues Carol Harris testified that while the VA has signed the contract with Cerner, created a program management office and drafted high-level governance plans — program officials havent designated what role, if any, IPO is to have in the governance process.Rep. Jim Banks, R-Indiana, supported Harris, remarking that the IPO is one of the few aspects of EHR modernization mandated by law. He also stressed IPOs governance role in the projects was not only important — but permanent.

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