Women Veterans Cancer Care Coordination Act

This bill makes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) place a regional breast and gynecologic cancer care coordinator in every VA region within one year. These coordinators help veterans with breast or gynecologic cancer who use the VA’s Community Care Program by linking VA doctors with non‑VA cancer specialists, checking in regularly, tracking services and health outcomes, and adding key details to the veteran’s VA medical record. They also share information about getting emergency care outside the VA (including that it’s generally best to notify the VA within 72 hours after a non‑VA ER visit) and connect veterans to mental health resources.

The VA must set up regions for this work, assign all VA facilities to a region, and consider the needs of rural veterans. Each coordinator reports to the VA’s Breast and Gynecologic Oncology System of Excellence. The VA must also deliver a report in three years comparing cancer care and outcomes between VA facilities and community providers, including timeliness and patient safety. Separately, the bill extends an existing limit on certain VA pension payments to September 30, 2032.

Key points

• Who is affected: Veterans diagnosed with breast or gynecologic cancer (or certain precancerous conditions) who are eligible for the VA Community Care Program.
• What changes: A regional coordinator in each VA region to guide care between VA and non‑VA providers; regular check‑ins; data tracking; emergency and mental health information; a VA report on care quality and outcomes.
• When: Coordinators must be in place within one year; the VA report is due in three years; the pension payment limit is extended through September 30, 2032.