Veterans to get expanded breast cancer screening access under new VA bill

A bipartisan bill introduced in the House would permanently authorize telehealth and telescreening mammography through the VA to expand access for women veterans, especially in rural areas. The measure was referred to the House Veterans' Affairs Committee and has a Senate companion.

Congressional lawmakers have introduced a bipartisan bill to expand breast cancer screening through the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Mammography Access for Veterans Act would permanently authorize telehealth and telescreening mammography in every state. Women are the fastest‑growing segment of the veteran population and now number more than 2.1 million, according to the VA. That share is projected to rise to about 18 percent of all veterans by 2040. Key facts: - H.R. 7411 was introduced in the House on February 5, 2026, by Representative Glenn 'GT' Thompson and is co-led by Representatives Rick Larsen, Jen Kiggans, and Maxine Dexter; it was referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. - The bill would require that every state offer either VA telescreening, a full‑service VA mammography facility, or mobile mammography, building on a telemammography pilot launched under the 2022 MAMMO Act. - Sponsors reported the MAMMO Act pilot delivered more than 7,000 screenings as of June 2025, which they describe as demonstrating demand and feasibility. - A Senate companion was introduced in December by Senators Richard Blumenthal, Jerry Moran, Mazie Hirono, and John Boozman, indicating bicameral support. - The VA has also updated women's health access so enrolled women can directly schedule gynecology appointments without a primary‑care referral, a change that affects more than one million women enrolled in VA care. Summary: Supporters say the bill seeks to close care gaps and improve early detection for women veterans, particularly those in rural or underserved communities. The House Veterans' Affairs Committee will consider H.R. 7411, and backers expect the Senate companion to advance in parallel as lawmakers pursue making VA telescreening mammography a permanent nationwide option.