Toward a DoD/VA longitudinal health record: politics and the policy landscape.

Policy implications of an interoperable Department of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Administration (VA) longitudinal health record (LHR) are substantial and far reaching. In this manuscript the authors explore the existing challenges and opportunities, the political landscape, and alternative solutions that have created a favorable environment for legislation and funding to support its development. The authors identify six policy themes emerging from the historic National Forum on the Future of the Defense Health Information System held recently at Georgetown University in Washington DC.