Sponsors (37)
Introduced January 7, 2025 by Julia Brownley · Last progress January 7, 2025
The bill creates a formal study and required VA plan to improve menopause care for women veterans—increasing accountability and the likelihood of better care—but does so with multi‑month delays and potential added cost that may frustrate veterans awaiting immediate help.
Women veterans will get clearer information and a concrete roadmap for improving perimenopause and menopause care because the bill requires a GAO study and a VA strategic implementation plan with a set timeline.
Veterans could see better access to interdisciplinary menopause care and clearer referral pathways to non‑VA providers, and VA clinical quality may improve through recommended training, education, and research leveraging.
Congressional oversight and the mandated VA plan increase accountability and establish a deadline for reforms to menopause care within VA.
Women veterans currently needing menopause care will experience delays because the GAO study (up to 18 months) plus a 6‑month VA planning window postpone immediate changes.
Taxpayers and veterans could face higher federal healthcare spending or shifted VA resources to implement GAO recommendations and expanded services.
If the study identifies gaps but VA implementation is slow, affected veterans may become dissatisfied as expectations for rapid improvement are raised.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires GAO to study VA menopause-related care (report in 18 months) and requires the VA to submit a strategic plan within 6 months after the report to implement recommendations.
Requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study medical services the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides for veterans experiencing perimenopause, genitourinary syndrome of menopause, and menopause, and to publish a report within 18 months. After the GAO report is public, the VA Secretary must deliver a strategic plan within 6 months describing how the VA will implement the GAO recommendations and improve quality and access to menopause care under existing VA medical care authorities. The GAO study must describe current care offerings, review VA clinical guidance and staff training, evaluate access to interdisciplinary care and outreach or education, assess quality including veteran feedback and clinical efficacy, identify research opportunities, and provide recommendations for improvement.