Women Veterans Cancer Care Coordination Act
The Women Veterans Cancer Care Coordination Act would create a new system of Regional Breast and Gynecologic Cancer Care Coordinators within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Each VISN (Veterans Integrated Services Network) would hire or designate a Regional Breast Cancer and Gynecologic Cancer Care Coordinator who reports to the Director of the VA’s Breast and Gynecologic Oncology System of Excellence (BGOSoE). These coordinators would help veterans with breast or gynecologic cancer (including those with precancerous conditions) who receive care at non-VA facilities through the Veterans Community Care Program. They would coordinate care between VA clinicians and community providers, monitor care and outcomes, collect relevant data, provide veterans with information on emergency care and mental health resources, and document key information in VA electronic health records. A Congress-mac mandated three-year report would compare health outcomes and other metrics between VA-based care and community care, and assess resources and changes needed to improve care. The bill also extends a pension-related payment limit date to 2032. In addition to the care coordination provisions, the bill defines who counts as a “breast and gynecologic cancer community care provider” and clarifies terms used for community care and non-VA facilities. Separately, it changes the date for an existing pension-related limit, extending it by one year.
Key Points
- 1Establishment of Regional Breast Cancer and Gynecologic Cancer Care Coordinators in every VISN, reporting to the BGOSoE Director, within one year of enactment.
- 2Eligible veterans for care coordination: those diagnosed with breast or gynecologic cancer (or precancerous conditions) who receive care through VA’s Community Care Program at non-VA facilities.
- 3Coordinators’ duties include: coordinating VA and community care, maintaining regular veteran contact, monitoring care and outcomes, collecting and documenting data in VA records, and providing information about emergency care and mental health resources.
- 4Data collection and reporting requirements, including a three-year Congressionally mandated report comparing VA facility care versus community care on outcomes, timeliness, safety, and resource needs.
- 5Definitions clarifying terms such as “breast and gynecologic cancer community care provider,” “non-Department facility,” and the scope of cancers covered (breast cancer and a defined list of gynecologic cancers).
- 6Pension-related provision: extends the date for certain pension payment limits from November 30, 2031 to September 30, 2032.