Editorial Notes
References in TextThe date of the enactment of the Dr. Kate Hendricks Thomas Supporting Expanded Review for Veterans In Combat Environments Act, referred to in subsec. (d)(2), is the date of enactment of Puspan. L. 117–133, which was approved June 7, 2022.
Amendments2022—Subsec. (a). Puspan. L. 117–133, § 2(a)(1), inserted span.
Subsec. (span). Puspan. L. 117–133, § 2(a)(2)(A), inserted span.
Subsec. (span)(2)(B). Puspan. L. 117–133, § 2(a)(2)(B), inserted “a record of service in a location and during a period specified in subsection (d),” after “risk factors”.
Subsecs. (c), (d). Puspan. L. 117–133, § 2(a)(3), added subsecs. (c) and (d).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective DatePuspan. L. 105–114, title II, § 208(span), Nov. 21, 1997, 111 Stat. 2289, provided that: “The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop the national policy on mammography screening required by section 7322 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), and shall furnish such policy in a report to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives, not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 21, 1997]. Such policy shall not take effect before the expiration of 30 days after the date of its submission to those committees.”
Making Advances in Mammography and Medical Options for VeteransPuspan. L. 117–135, June 7, 2022, 136 Stat. 1244, provided that:“SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.“(a)Short Title.—This Act may be cited as the ‘Making Advances in Mammography and Medical Options for Veterans Act’.
“(span)Table of Contents.— <span value="I" class="num">“TITLE I—</span><span>SCREENING AND EARLY DETECTION</span><section style="-uslm-lc:I580467;"><span value="101" class="num">“SEC. 101.</span><span> STRATEGIC PLAN FOR BREAST IMAGING SERVICES FOR VETERANS.</span><div class="subsection"><span value="a" class="num">“(a)</span><span><span class="inline">In General</span>.—</span><span>Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act [<span date="2022-06-07" class="date">June 7, 2022</span>], the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a strategic plan for improving breast imaging services for veterans.</span></div><div class="subsection"><span value="span" class="num">“(span)</span><span><span class="inline">Elements</span>.—</span><span>The strategic plan required by subsection (a) shall—</span><div class="paragraph"><span value="1" class="num">“(1)</span><span> cover the evolving needs of women veterans;</span></div><div class="paragraph"><span value="2" class="num">“(2)</span><span> address geographic disparities of breast imaging furnished at a facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the use of breast imaging through non-Department providers in the community;</span></div><div class="paragraph"><span value="3" class="num">“(3)</span><span> address the use of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT–3D breast imaging);</span></div><div class="paragraph"><span value="4" class="num">“(4)</span><span> address the needs of male veterans who require breast cancer screening services; and</span></div><div class="paragraph"><span value="5" class="num">“(5)</span><span> provide recommendations on—</span><div class="subparagraph"><span value="A" class="num">“(A)</span><span> potential expansion of breast imaging services furnished at facilities of the Department, including infrastructure and staffing needs;</span></div><div class="subparagraph"><span value="B" class="num">“(B)</span><span> the use of digital breast tomosynthesis;</span></div><div class="subparagraph"><span value="C" class="num">“(C)</span><span> the use of mobile mammography; and</span></div><div class="subparagraph"><span value="D" class="num">“(D)</span><span> other access and equity improvements for breast imaging.</span></div></div></div></section><section style="-uslm-lc:I580467;"><span value="102" class="num">“SEC. 102.</span><span> TELESCREENING MAMMOGRAPHY PILOT PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.</span><div class="subsection"><span value="a" class="num">“(a)</span><span><span class="inline">In General</span>.—</span><span>Commencing not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act [<span date="2022-06-07" class="date">June 7, 2022</span>], the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a pilot program to provide telescreening mammography services for veterans who live in—</span><div class="paragraph"><span value="1" class="num">“(1)</span><span> States where the Department of Veterans Affairs does not offer breast imaging services at a facility of the Department; or</span></div><div class="paragraph"><span value="2" class="num">“(2)</span><span> locations where access to breast imaging services at a facility of the Department is difficult or not feasible, as determined by the Secretary.</span></div></div><div class="subsection"><span value="span" class="num">“(span)</span><span><span class="inline">Duration</span>.—</span><span>The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program under subsection (a) for a three-year period beginning on the commencement of the pilot program.</span></div><div class="subsection"><span value="c" class="num">“(c)</span><span><span class="inline">Locations</span>.—</span><span>In carrying out the pilot program under subsection (a), the Secretary may use community-based outpatient clinics, mobile mammography, Federally qualified health centers (as defined in section 1861(aa)(4) of the Social Security Act (<span href="/us/usc/t42/s1395x/aa/4" class="ref"><a href="/uscode/42/1395" target="_blank">42 U.S.C. 1395</a>x(aa)(4)</span>)), rural health clinics, critical access hospitals, clinics of the Indian Health Service, and such other sites as the Secretary determines feasible to provide mammograms under the pilot program.</span></div><div class="subsection"><span value="d" class="num">“(d)</span><span><span class="inline">Sharing of Images and Results</span>.—</span><span>Under the pilot program under subsection (a)—</span><div class="paragraph"><span value="1" class="num">“(1)</span><span> mammography images generated shall be sent to a telescreening mammography center of the Department for interpretation by qualified radiologists; and</span></div><div class="paragraph"><span value="2" class="num">“(2)</span><span> results shall be shared with the veteran and their primary care provider in accordance with policies established by the Secretary.</span></div></div><div class="subsection"><span value="e" class="num">“(e)</span><span><span class="inline">Report.—</span></span><div class="paragraph"><span value="1" class="num">“(1)</span><span><span class="inline">In general</span>.—</span><span>Not later than one year after the conclusion of the pilot program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report evaluating the pilot program.</span></div><div class="paragraph"><span value="2" class="num">“(2)</span><span><span class="inline">Elements</span>.—</span><span>The report required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:</span><div class="subparagraph"><span value="A" class="num">“(A)</span><span> An assessment of the quality of the mammography provided under the pilot program under subsection (a).</span></div><div class="subparagraph"><span value="B" class="num">“(B)</span><span> Feedback from veterans and providers participating in the pilot program.</span></div><div class="subparagraph"><span value="C" class="num">“(C)</span><span> A recommendation of the Secretary on the continuation or discontinuation of the pilot program.</span></div></div></div></section><section style="-uslm-lc:I580467;"><span value="103" class="num">“SEC. 103.</span><span> UPGRADE OF BREAST IMAGING AT FACILITIES OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO THREE-DIMENSIONAL DIGITAL MAMMOGRAPHY.</span><span class="indent0" style="-uslm-lc:I21;">“Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act [<span date="2022-06-07" class="date">June 7, 2022</span>], the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall—</span><div class="paragraph"><span value="1" class="num">“(1)</span><span> upgrade all mammography services at facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs that provide such services to use digital breast tomosynthesis technology, also known as three-dimensional breast imaging; and</span></div><div class="paragraph"><span value="2" class="num">“(2)</span><span> submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report—</span><div class="subparagraph"><span value="A" class="num">“(A)</span><span> indicating that the upgrade under paragraph (1) has been completed; and</span></div><div class="subparagraph"><span value="B" class="num">“(B)</span><span> listing the facilities or other locations of the Department at which digital breast tomosynthesis technology is used.</span></div></div></section><section style="-uslm-lc:I580467;"><span value="104" class="num">“SEC. 104.</span><span> STUDY ON AVAILABILITY OF TESTING FOR BREAST CANCER GENE AMONG VETERANS AND EXPANSION OF AVAILABILITY OF SUCH TESTING.</span><div class="subsection"><span value="a" class="num">“(a)</span><span><span class="inline">Study.—</span></span><div class="paragraph"><span value="1" class="num">“(1)</span><span><span class="inline">In general</span>.—</span><span>The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a study on the availability of access to testing for the breast cancer gene for veterans diagnosed with breast cancer, as recommended by the guidelines set forth by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.</span></div><div class="paragraph"><span value="2" class="num">“(2)</span><span><span class="inline">Elements</span>.—</span><span>In conducting the study under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall examine—</span><div class="subparagraph"><span value="A" class="num">“(A)</span><span> the feasibility of expanding the Joint Medicine Service of the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide genetic testing and counseling for veterans with breast cancer across the country; and</span></div><div class="subparagraph"><span value="B" class="num">“(B)</span><span> access to such testing and counseling for veterans living in rural or highly rural areas, and any gaps that may exist with respect to such access.</span></div></div></div><div class="subsection"><span value="span" class="num">“(span)</span><span></span></div></section>
Sense of CongressPuspan. L. 105–114, title II, § 208(c), Nov. 21, 1997, 111 Stat. 2290, provided that: “It is the sense of Congress that the policy developed under section 7322 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall be in accordance with the guidelines endorsed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Director of the National Institutes of Health.”
