Making Advances in Mammography and Medical Options for Veterans Act

Bill: 117-hr-4794
Sponsor: Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]
Introduced: 2021-07-29 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Cancer
Congressional oversight
Disability and paralysis
Genetics
Government studies and investigations
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health facilities and institutions
Health information and medical records
Health technology, devices, supplies
Home and outpatient care
Indian social and development programs
Medical research
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Military medicine
Military personnel and dependents
Minority health
Neurological disorders
Rural conditions and development
Veterans' medical care
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-07-29
text: 

Making Advances in Mammography and Medical Options for Veterans Act

 
This bill addresses the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provision of mammograms and breast cancer treatment.
 
Among other requirements, the VA must
 
 
submit a strategic plan for improving breast imaging services for veterans,
 
implement a three-year pilot program to provide telemammography services for veterans who live in locations where access to breast imaging services at a VA facility is difficult or unfeasible,
 
upgrade all mammography services at its facilities to use three-dimensional breast imaging,
 
update guidelines to increase the use of testing for the breast cancer gene and genetic counseling for veterans diagnosed with breast cancer, and
 
update its policies and directives to ensure that it confirms the accessibility of a breast imaging site when referring a veteran with a spinal cord injury or disorder to a non-VA provider.
 
 
In addition, the VA must enter into a partnership with at least one cancer center of the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health in each Veterans Integrated Service Network to expand access to high-quality cancer care for women veterans. In implementing such partnerships, the VA must ensure that veterans with breast cancer who reside in rural areas or states without a partner cancer center are able to receive care through telehealth.
 
Finally, the VA must collaborate with the Department of Defense and report on all current research and health care collaborations between the departments on treating veterans and members of the Armed Forces with breast cancer.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-10-14
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2021-09-09
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2021-07-29
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2021-07-29
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2021-07-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-07-29
text: Introduced in House