Women Veterans Cancer Care Coordination Act
Summary
The Women Veterans Cancer Care Coordination Act aims to improve breast and gynecologic cancer care for women veterans. It mandates the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to designate Regional Breast and Gynecologic Cancer Care Coordinators within each Veteran Integrated Services Network (VISN). These coordinators will ensure care coordination between VA clinicians and community care providers.
The Act also requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit a report comparing health outcomes of veterans receiving cancer care at VA facilities versus non-Department facilities. This report will evaluate the effectiveness of care coordination and identify areas for improvement.
Furthermore, the Act extends certain limits on payments of pension under title 38, United States Code.
Expected Effects
The Act will likely lead to better coordinated cancer care for eligible women veterans, particularly those receiving care through the Veterans Community Care Program. The required report should provide valuable data for improving cancer care services within the VA. The extension of pension payment limits offers continued financial support to eligible veterans.
Potential Benefits
- Improved coordination of care for women veterans diagnosed with breast or gynecologic cancers.
- Enhanced monitoring of services and health outcomes for veterans receiving cancer care.
- Increased access to information about emergency care and mental health resources.
- Better documentation of care in electronic health records.
- Data-driven improvements in cancer care services through the required report.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential administrative burden and costs associated with establishing and staffing the Regional Breast Cancer and Gynecologic Cancer Care Coordinator positions.
- Possible delays in implementation due to the one-year timeframe for hiring or designating coordinators.
- The effectiveness of the program will depend on the quality and availability of community care providers.
- The report's findings may highlight disparities in care or outcomes, potentially causing concern among veterans.
- Limited scope, focusing solely on breast and gynecologic cancers, potentially neglecting other health needs of women veterans.
Constitutional Alignment
The Act appears to align with the Constitution's general welfare clause (Preamble) by promoting the health and well-being of veterans. Congress has the power to provide for the common defense and to raise and support armies (Article I, Section 8), which implicitly includes caring for veterans. The Act does not appear to infringe on any specific constitutional rights or limitations.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).