Seamless Transition; Hearing Before the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, House of Representatives, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, One Hu (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 2006-01 edition. Excerpt: ... of separation or discharge earlier in the process. In commenting on our January 2005 report, VA said that a memorandum of understanding was then being negotiated that would allow Va to obtain from I H il i tlte scrviremomber's medical information prior to discharge from military service. VA added that Its Office of General Counsel was confident that there arc exceptions in the Privacy Rule that would permit military service medical information to be disclosed for VA benefits purposes and that it had pressed the case with DOD's General Counsel As of May 17, 2005, the memorandum of understanding between DOD and VA has not been finalutnl Despite being unable to agree on an exchange of individually identifiable health data, DOD and VA are currently reviewing a draft memorandum of understanding. DOD and VA officials told us they believe th.it the memorandum of understanding will move the two departments closer to a data sharing agreement. However, we found that the draft memorandum of understanding restates many of the legal authorities contained in ( Privacy Rule for the use and disclosure of individually identifiable health data. For example, the draft memorandum of understanding does not specify that Individually identifiable health data of OEF/OIF scrvicemembe rs shall be disclosed and restates that data will be shared upon separation or dtsctevxe without further defining the specific point during the separation or discharge process when data can be shared. As a result, even if the memorandum of understanding is ftnalrzrd. DUD and VA will Mill not have a data sharing agreement thai specifies what types of individually identifiable health data can be exchanged and when the data can be shared. Mr Chairman, this completes my prepared...