The Department of Veterans Affairs leads the nation in breast cancer screening rates and has outperformed non-VA health care systems in breast cancer screenings for more than 15 years, the department says.
Almost all, 87 percent, of eligible women have received mammograms in the VA health care system in fiscal year 2010.
By comparison, in 2010, the private sector screened 71 percent of eligible women, Medicare screened 69 percent and Medicaid screened 51 percent, according to Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set, a tool used by more than 90 percent of U.S. health plans to measure performance on dimensions of care and service.
Recommended For You
"We're proud of our great record on breast cancer screenings and treatments," says Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "We'll continue to work to improve access and coordination of care for women veterans."
Since 2000, the number of female veterans using VA health care has more than doubled, from nearly 160,000 to more than 337,000 in fiscal year 2011.
As the number of women veterans increases rapidly, VA not only focuses on improving access to breast screenings and coordination of care, but also trains providers in the latest breast exam techniques, the department says.
VA provides mammograms for all veterans, with 45 facilities providing services on-site utilizing digital mammography. Some facilities offer mammograms to walk-in patients and same-day ultrasounds.
These efforts in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment are part of a larger VA initiative to enhance all health care services for women veterans, the department says.
Women make up six percent of veterans who use VA health care, but they are expected to make up a larger segment of all VA health care users in the future. VA is preparing for this increase by expanding access to care, enhancing facilities, training staff and improving services for women.
© 2025 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
