Sponsors (2)
The bill would create a targeted VA Precision Oncology Program that can substantially improve diagnosis, trials access, and specialized care for veterans with prostate cancer, but it is time‑limited, concentrated at a modest number of centers, and leaves long‑term funding and equitable nationwide access uncertain.
Veterans with prostate cancer will gain access to a VA Precision Oncology Program that provides genetic sequencing, biomarker-driven trials, and specialized care at designated centers.
Designated centers must staff multidisciplinary specialists and two full-time research staff, improving care coordination and research capacity for enrolled veterans.
Veterans in rural or remote areas will have increased access to expert consultation and trials through telemedicine tumor boards and travel support included in the program.
The program's funding is limited to $15.5 million annually for only three years, leaving long-term operations, expansion, and nationwide scale-up uncertain and at risk of requiring additional VA resources or new appropriations.
Concentrating program resources by initially designating 27 large VA centers risks creating inequities and limited access for veterans who rely on smaller VA facilities.
Veterans who do not live near designated centers may still face access gaps if affiliated or local facilities lack the capacity to deliver required services despite the program's extension requirements.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Establishes a VA precision oncology program for prostate cancer with designated centers, staffing and research requirements, reporting, and $15.5M/year authorized for FY2027–FY2029.
Official title: Direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a precision oncology program for cancer of the prostate at the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
Introduced July 15, 2026 by Jerry Moran · Last progress July 15, 2026
Creates a VA Precision Oncology Program for prostate cancer to deliver coordinated clinical care, genomic sequencing, registries, clinical trials access, telemedicine, biopsy and travel support, and research at specified VA medical centers. It names provisional centers of excellence, requires staffing and research capacity, sets up a program leadership team, mandates reporting and performance reviews, and authorizes $15.5 million per year for FY2027–FY2029 to run the program. Designated centers must meet clinical, sequencing, registry, trial, telemedicine, biopsy, travel-assistance, mentoring, and staffing requirements; the Secretary may add or remove centers under a defined review schedule. The Secretary must file an implementation plan within 180 days, an overall program plan by 2029, and annual reports to Congress with performance and funding information beginning the year after enactment.