Women Veterans Cancer Care Coordination Act
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Would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to hire or designate a Regional Breast Cancer and Gynecologic Cancer Care Coordinator at each of its regional health care networks, ensuring that women veterans with breast or gynecologic cancer receive coordinated care between VA clinicians and outside community providers.
The bill addresses a persistent concern that women veterans navigating cancer treatment across VA and non-VA facilities can fall through coordination gaps, potentially delaying care or worsening outcomes.
What this bill would do
What it would do
The bill would direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to hire or designate a Regional Breast Cancer and Gynecologic Cancer Care Coordinator at every Veteran Integrated Services Network (VISN — the VA's regional health care administrative areas) within one year of enactment. Each coordinator would report to the Director of the Breast and Gynecologic Oncology System of Excellence. Veterans eligible for the service are those diagnosed with breast or gynecologic cancer (or a precancerous condition) who also qualify for care through the Veterans Community Care Program, meaning care at a non-VA facility. Coordinator duties would include managing care transitions between VA and community providers, monitoring health outcomes, maintaining electronic health records, and informing veterans about emergency care protocols and mental health resources.
The bill would also require the VA Secretary to submit a report to Congress within three years comparing health outcomes, care timeliness, and patient safety for veterans treated at VA versus community facilities. A separate, unrelated provision extends a sunset date on pension payment limits to September 30, 2032.
Key provisions
- 1Would require the VA to hire or designate a Regional Breast Cancer and Gynecologic Cancer Care Coordinator at each VISN within one year of enactment, reporting to the BGOSoE Director.
- 2Would limit eligibility to veterans diagnosed with breast or gynecologic cancer or a precancerous condition who also qualify for the Veterans Community Care Program at a non-VA facility.
- 3Would require coordinators to ensure care coordination between VA clinicians and community cancer care providers, maintain regular veteran contact, and document care in VA electronic health records.
- 4Would require coordinators to monitor health outcomes — including remission, metastasis, and death — and track demographic and treatment data using VA databases.
- 5Would require the VA Secretary to report to Congress within three years comparing health outcomes, care timeliness, and patient safety between VA and community cancer care, and recommending resource or program improvements.
- 6Would extend the sunset date on certain pension payment limits from November 30, 2031, to September 30, 2032, by amending 38 U.S.C. § 5503(d)(7).
Who would be affected
Women veterans diagnosed with breast or gynecologic cancer — including cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, vulvar cancer, and gestational trophoblastic neoplasia — who are eligible for the Veterans Community Care Program. VA clinicians, community cancer care providers under contract with the VA, and VA regional network administrators who would hire or designate the new coordinators are also directly affected.
Why it matters
Women veterans receiving cancer care across both VA and outside community providers currently lack a dedicated point of contact to manage that transition. These coordinators would track individual veterans' care plans, monitor outcomes, and ensure records are updated — potentially reducing delays, missed follow-ups, or errors that arise when care is split between VA and non-VA settings. Rural veterans are specifically called out as a population the regional design must consider.
What would change
Changes to existing law
Amends 38 U.S.C. § 5503(d)(7) (Sec. 3)
Extends the sunset date for certain limits on payments of pension from November 30, 2031, to September 30, 2032.
Creates Veterans Community Care Program (38 U.S.C. § 1703) (Sec. 2)
Creates a new regional care coordination structure for women veterans with breast or gynecologic cancer receiving care under the Community Care Program.
Agencies directed to act
Effective dates
- VA must hire or designate all regional cancer care coordinators
- VA must submit congressional report on health outcomes and care coordination
Funding and costs
Congressional Budget Office estimate
CBO estimates H.R. 1860 would reduce the federal deficit by $30 million over the 2025–2035 period, while also increasing spending subject to appropriation by $28 million over the same window.
The bill would reduce net direct spending (mandatory spending) by $30 million over 2025–2035, driven primarily by a $40 million savings from extending a reduction in VA pension payments to veterans residing in Medicaid nursing homes through September 2032, partially offset by $10 million in new direct spending to fund cancer care coordinators through the Toxic Exposures Fund. It would also authorize $28 million in discretionary spending (funding that requires future congressional appropriations) over 2025–2035 to hire one care coordinator per Veterans Integrated Services Network and submit a required report. CBO found no revenues effects and identified no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
How implementation would work
Within one year of enactment, the VA Secretary would hire or designate one coordinator per VISN, each reporting to the BGOSoE Director. The Secretary would also define care coordination regions, assigning all VA facilities to a region. Coordinators would make regular contact with eligible veterans, document interactions in VA electronic health records, and work with each facility's Office of Community Care. Within three years, the Secretary must submit a congressional report comparing health outcomes, care timeliness, and patient-safety data between VA and community cancer care, plus recommendations for further improvements.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Official CRS summary
Show the CRS summaryHide the CRS summary
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to hire or designate a Regional Breast Cancer and Gynecologic Cancer Care Coordinator for each Veteran Integrated Services Network (i.e., regional VA health care administrative areas). Among other duties, such coordinators must ensure the coordination of care between VA clinicians and breast and gynecologic cancer community care providers.
Under the bill, veterans are eligible for such care coordination if they are diagnosed with a breast or gynecologic condition and are eligible for health care through the Veterans Community Care Program.
Legislative subjects
Armed Forces and National Security; Cancer; Congressional oversight; Health personnel; Veterans' medical care; Women's health
Committee report
H. Rept. 119-220