Senators emphasize how insufficient oncology care access affects veterans exposed to toxic substances, building on Klobuchar’s longstanding efforts to support veterans suffering from effects of exposure to toxic substances including burn pits

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and John Boozman (R-AR) sent a letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) requesting additional information on the Breast and Gynecological Cancers System of Excellence and new TeleOncology programs to deliver oncology care for female veterans. 

The senators emphasized how insufficient access to oncology care particularly affects female veterans living in rural areas and those who have been exposed to toxic substances during their military service. This builds on Klobuchar’s longstanding efforts to support veterans suffering from the effects of exposure to toxic substances, including burn pits.

“We are writing to seek additional information about the outreach and structure of your comprehensive oncology care programs, specifically the Breast and Gynecological Cancers System of Excellence,” the senators wrote to Dr. Steven Lieberman, Deputy Secretary of Health at the VA. “For too long, access to oncology care for our nation’s two million female veterans has been overlooked. This problem has been particularly acute for women suffering from the after-effects of toxic exposure during their military service.”

“The VA has noted that veterans are nearly 2.5 times more likely to live in rural areas, but only 11.6 percent of oncologists practice in those parts of the country. In states such as Minnesota and Arkansas, over two million residents live in underpopulated areas,” the senators continued. “We commend the VA for being proactive in its effort to care for our nation’s two million female veterans. As your partner in Congress, we hope to continue to be able to assist the development of these vital health programs. Our veterans deserve the best.”

Klobuchar has long been a leading advocate for veterans and servicemembers exposed to toxic substances.

Last month, two pieces of Klobuchar-led bipartisan legislation to help veterans exposed to toxic substances passed the Senate as part of the historic SFC Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act. The Toxic Exposure Training Act, which Klobuchar introduced with Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID), will improve education and training for Department of Veterans Affairs health care personnel to treat illnesses related to exposure to burn pits and other toxic substances. The Toxic Exposure in the American Military (TEAM) Act, which Klobuchar introduced alongside Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Jerry Moran (R-KS), will reform and improve how veterans exposed to toxic substances receive health care and benefits from the VA.

In October 2021, Klobuchar and Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) sent a bipartisan letter to the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs expressing concern about how toxic burn pit exposure affects women’s health, including the potential increased risk of breast cancer. The letter encouraged the departments to work together to conduct research into the relationship between toxic exposure during deployment and breast cancer in post-9/11 servicemembers and veterans as well as make sure veterans are aware of the resources that are available to them so they can get the care they need.

In January 2021, a provision based on the bipartisan Pandemic Care for Burn Pits Exposure Act led by Klobuchar and Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD) was signed into law as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The provision improves the care that veterans who were previously exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances receive during the coronavirus pandemic.

Klobuchar has also led efforts to strengthen preventative health care services. Earlier this month, she joined a bipartisan, bicameral group of colleagues in introducing legislation to increase access to lifesaving cancer screenings.

Last October, Klobuchar and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced the Preventative Care Awareness Act, bipartisan legislation to promote mammograms, screenings, and other preventative health care services.

The full text of the letter is available HERE and below:

Dear Dr. Lieberman, 

We are writing to seek additional information about the outreach and structure of your comprehensive oncology care programs, specifically the Breast and Gynecological Cancers System of Excellence. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has recognized the need to provide further outreach and stability, noting that the department “must position itself to address the potential access needs for rural cancer care, ensuring that rural veterans receive the same state-of-the-art care as their urban counterparts.” 

For too long, access to oncology care for our nation’s two million female veterans has been overlooked. This problem has been particularly acute for women suffering from the after-effects of toxic exposure during their military service. The VA has noted that veterans are nearly 2.5 times more likely to live in rural areas, but only 11.6 percent of oncologists practice in those parts of the country. In states such as Minnesota and Arkansas, over two million residents live in underpopulated areas.

In previous reports and briefings to Congress, the VA noted that a recently-established TeleOncology will help serve cancer patients across the country. This TeleOncology program received $4.5 million in grant funding and works in conjunction with the Breast and Gynecological Cancers System of Excellence and other VA cancer centers.

Additionally, legislation like the Dr. Kate Hendricks Thomas Supporting Expanded Review for Veterans in Combat Environments (SERVICE) Act and the Making Advances in Mammography and Medical Options for Veterans (MAMMO) Act which were signed into law on June 7, 2022, directs the VA to expand mammography screening to veterans who served in locations with increased exposure to toxic substances and improve screening and early detection of breast cancer.

We are encouraged that the Department has continued to transform cancer research, treatment, prevention, and outcomes for female veterans with the establishment of the Breast and Gynecological Cancers System of Excellence. As such, we request answers to the following questions: 

1. The VA estimates there are 4.7 million rural and highly rural veterans, with 2.7 million enrolled in VA programs. What is the VA’s plan in using TeleOncology to provide outreach to the 2 million rural veterans not currently enrolled in services? 

a. Similarly, how will the Breast and Gynecologic Systems of Excellence provide specific outreach to female veterans in rural areas?

2. The TeleOncology program was established with funding from grant money. How long will this grant money sustain the TeleOncology and the Breast and Gynecological Cancer System of Excellence programs? 

3. We understand that TeleOncology systems are in use at more than 10 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) sites and are expected to expand to over 20 sites soon. What effort will VHA make to ensure the telehealth services are available across the country, including in the Upper Midwest region and other rural regions? 

a. What is the percentage of oncology care that can be accomplished in-home versus care that must be conducted within a VA facility? 

We commend the VA for being proactive in its effort to care for our nation’s two million female veterans. As your partner in Congress, we hope to continue to be able to assist the development of these vital health programs. Our veterans deserve the best.

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