VA Mandates Nationwide Mammography Access and Permanent Telehealth Screening Program Within Two Years

The “Mammography Access for Veterans Act of 2025” is a clear win for veteran healthcare access, especially for women who rely on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for their screenings. Simply put, this bill takes the VA’s current telescreening mammography program—which was operating as a temporary “pilot”—and makes it permanent. More importantly, it forces a massive expansion of services, requiring the VA Secretary to ensure that within two years, every single state and Puerto Rico offers a guaranteed option for mammography screening.

The Pilot Program Graduates to Permanent Status

For those who follow healthcare tech, the VA’s telescreening program is pretty cool. It uses technology to expand access to breast cancer screening, which is critical for early detection. By removing the word “pilot” from the existing law (Section 102 of the Making Advances in Mammography and Medical Options for Veterans Act), this bill ensures that the program isn't just a temporary experiment; it’s a permanent part of the VA’s healthcare toolkit. This stability means the VA can invest fully in the technology and staffing needed to run it long-term, which is good news for consistency and quality of care.

Guaranteed Access, Coast to Coast

This is where the rubber meets the road for veterans living outside major metro areas. The bill mandates nationwide access within two years of its enactment. The VA must ensure that every state and Puerto Rico offers at least one of three options: the now-permanent telescreening program, a full-service mammography program at a VA facility, or a VA mobile mammography program. This is huge for rural veterans who might currently have to drive hours to a VA facility that even offers imaging services. For a veteran in rural Montana or central Florida, this means the VA must bring the service closer to them, whether through a mobile unit or by establishing a permanent, local telescreening option.

Accessibility Is Not Optional

One provision that stands out is the explicit requirement for accessibility. The bill mandates that all these programs—telescreening, full-service, or mobile—must be accessible for veterans with paralysis, spinal cord injuries, or other disabilities. This isn't just a nod to existing ADA rules; it specifically calls out the needs of veterans with mobility challenges, ensuring that the equipment, facilities, and mobile units are designed so that a veteran using a wheelchair can actually receive the screening without unnecessary hurdles. This is a critical detail that guarantees equity for some of the most vulnerable veterans who often face the steepest barriers to care.

What This Means for the VA and Taxpayers

While this bill is overwhelmingly beneficial for veterans, it’s worth noting that permanently expanding and mandating nationwide access comes with a significant price tag. The VA budget will absorb the increased operational costs of running these programs permanently in every state. The bill is clear that the Secretary has the authority to expand these services even further than the minimum requirements, suggesting a long-term commitment to increasing access. The two-year deadline for the nationwide rollout is ambitious, and the VA will need to move fast on procurement and logistics to meet that target, especially when rolling out specialized mobile units or upgrading facilities for full accessibility.