Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia's Women Veterans Cancer Care Coordinator Act Passes Unanimously in the U.S. House of Representatives

Strategic Insights -

Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia's Women Veterans Cancer Care Coordinator Act (H.R. 1860) has passed unanimously in the U.S. House of Representatives, aiming to strengthen care for women veterans facing breast and gynecologic cancers. The legislation, introduced by Congresswoman Garcia alongside Congresswoman Julia Brownley, creates Regional Breast and Gynecologic Cancer Care Coordinators within each of the VA's Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISNs) to guide women veterans through their treatment. This commonsense legislation addresses the challenges faced by women veterans, who are the fastest-growing group in the U.S. veteran population and are projected to make up 18% of all veterans nationwide by 2040.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Women Veterans Cancer Care Coordinator Act creates Regional Breast and Gynecologic Cancer Care Coordinators within each of the VA's Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISNs) to guide women veterans through their treatment, ensuring clear and timely communication between VA clinicians and community care providers.
  • The coordinators will track treatment outcomes and demographic data to improve the quality of cancer care, provide veterans with emergency care information and mental health resources to support recovery and follow-up care, and document cancer diagnoses and contact information for community providers.
  • The bill aims to address the challenges faced by women veterans, who are the fastest-growing group in the U.S. veteran population, making up 11.3% of all veterans in 2023, with over 190,000 women veterans in Texas alone.
  • Women veterans are projected to make up 18% of all veterans nationwide by 2040, and the average age of women veterans diagnosed with breast cancer is 58, and the average age for gynecologic cancer is 55.
  • The Breast and Gynecological Oncology System of Excellence (BGOSoE), created by the VA in 2020, is a nationwide network of VA specialists working together to standardize and improve breast and gynecologic cancer care for women veterans.
  • The Women Veterans Cancer Care Coordinator Act strengthens and expands the work of the BGOSoE by addressing the critical gaps in care coordination for women veterans undergoing treatment.

Statistics:

  • Women are the fastest-growing group in the U.S. veteran population, rising from just 4% of all veterans in 2000 to 11.3% in 2023. (Source: Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia)
  • Over 190,000 women veterans live in Texas, the highest number in any state. (Source: Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia)
  • By 2040, women veterans are projected to make up 18% of all veterans nationwide. (Source: Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia)
  • The average age of women veterans diagnosed with breast cancer is 58. (Source: Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia)
  • The average age for gynecologic cancer is 55. (Source: Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia)

Sources:

  • Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia's Women Veterans Cancer Care Coordinator Act (H.R. 1860)
  • https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-sylvia-garcia-s-women-veterans-cancer-care-coordinator-act-unanimously-passes-the-house