Think of VistA as “proof of concept” for the idea. Dod believes that, but now they’ll do it so it works for them.

I have no problem believing that their cost-benefit analysis works out so they’d decide to implement their own system rather than retro-fit VistA.

Outsourced defense is nothing new. Flash back to Eisenhower warning of the Military-Industrial complex! Agencies desiring integrated systems at the expense of in-place smaller systems is not unique to the current administration. Al Gore’s government re-invention spawned dozens of big projects like this.

The important thing is that they’re getting on the health IT bandwagon.