The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced on April 25 an expansion of its “Close to Me” cancer care program under which VA clinicians travel to provide veterans with the full continuum of cancer care at nearby community-based outpatient clinics, often in rural locations. The expansion will bring new cancer diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance services to an additional 9,000 veterans and 30 locations by the end of October 2025, providing veterans with what Secretary Denis McDonough describes as “personalized, high-quality, integrated cancer care closer to where they live.” 

To date, “Close to Me” has resulted in savings of more than 1.9 million in medication costs by providing VA with statutory access to reduced drug costs compared with costs if the affected veterans had been referred to the community. The effort builds on comprehensive efforts by VA and the Biden-Harris Administration to improve care for veterans with cancer under President Biden’s Unity Agenda and the Biden Cancer Moonshot.

More than a million veterans are on the VA cancer care continuum, from screening to survivorship. For access to the news release that further explains the “Close to Home” initiative, its recent positive results, and anticipated outcomes, click here.