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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7214 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7214
To require a report on access to maternal health care within the
military health system, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 1, 2024
Ms. Stefanik (for herself and Ms. Sewell) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require a report on access to maternal health care within the
military health system, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Improving Access to Maternal Health
for Military and Dependent Moms Act of 2024''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Covered individual.--The term ``covered individual''
means--
(A) a covered beneficiary; or
(B) a dependent.
(2) Covered beneficiary; dependent; tricare program.--The
terms ``covered beneficiary'', ``dependent'', and ``TRICARE
program'' have the meanings given those terms in section 1072
of title 10, United States Code.
(3) Maternal health.--The term ``maternal health'' means
care during labor, birthing, prenatal care, and postpartum
care.
(4) Maternity care desert.-- The term ``maternity care
desert'' means a county in the United States that does not
have--
(A) a hospital or birth center offering obstetric
care; or
(B) an obstetric provider.
(5) Prenatal care.--The term ``prenatal care'' means
medical care provided to maintain and improve fetal and
maternal health during pregnancy.
(6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Defense.
SEC. 3. REPORT ON ACCESS TO MATERNAL HEALTH CARE WITHIN THE MILITARY
HEALTH SYSTEM.
(a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Armed Services and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and
the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Appropriations of
the House of Representatives a report on access to maternal health care
within the military health system for covered individuals, during the
preceding 2 year period.
(b) Contents.--The report required under subsection (a) shall
include the following:
(1) With respect to military medical treatment facilities:
(A) An analysis of the availability of maternal
health care for covered individuals who access the
military health system through such facilities.
(B) An identification of staffing shortages in
positions relating to maternal health and childbirth,
including obstetrician-gynecologists, certified nurse
midwives, and labor and delivery nurses.
(C) A description of specific challenges faced by
covered individuals in accessing maternal health care
at such facilities.
(D) An analysis of the timeliness of access to
maternal health care, including wait times for and
travel times to appointments.
(E) A description of how such facilities track
patient satisfaction with maternal health services.
(F) A process to establish continuity of prenatal
care and postpartum care for covered individuals who
experience a permanent change of station during a
pregnancy.
(G) An identification of barriers with regard to
continuity of prenatal care and postpartum care during
permanent changes of station.
(H) A description of military-specific health
challenges impacting covered individuals who receive
maternal healthcare at military medical treatment
facilities, and a description of how the Department
tracks such challenges.
(I) For the 10-year period preceding the date of
the submission of the report, the amount of funds
annually expended--
(i) by the Department of Defense on
maternal health care; and
(ii) by covered individuals on out-of-
pocket costs associated with maternal health
care.
(J) An identification of each medical facility of
the Department of Defense located in a maternity care
desert.
(K) Recommendations and legislative proposals--
(i) to address staffing shortages that
impact the positions described in subparagraph
(B);
(ii) to improve the delivery and
availability of maternal health services
through military medical treatment facilities
and improve patient experience; and
(iii) to improve continuity of prenatal
care and postpartum care for covered
individuals during a permanent change of
station.
(2) With respect to providers within the TRICARE program
network that are not located at or affiliated with a military
medical treatment facility:
(A) An analysis of the availability of maternal
health care for covered individuals who access the
military health system through such providers.
(B) An identification of staffing shortages for
such providers in positions relating to maternal health
and childbirth, including obstetrician-gynecologists,
certified nurse midwives, and labor and delivery
nurses.
(C) A description of specific challenges faced by
covered individuals in accessing maternal health care
from such providers.
(D) An analysis of the timeliness of access to
maternal health care, including wait times for and
travel times to appointments.
(E) A description of how such providers track
patient satisfaction with maternal health services.
(F) A process to establish continuity of prenatal
care and postpartum care for covered individuals who
experience a permanent change of station during a
pregnancy.
(G) An identification of barriers with regard to
continuity of prenatal care and postpartum care during
permanent changes of station.
(H) The number of dependents who choose to access
maternal health care through such providers.
(I) For the 10-year period preceding the date of
the submission of the report, the amount of funds
annually expended--
(i) by the Department of Defense on
maternal health care; and
(ii) by covered individuals on out-of-
pocket costs associated with maternal health
care.
(J) Recommendations and legislative proposals--
(i) to address staffing shortages that
impact the positions described in subparagraph
(B);
(ii) to improve the delivery and
availability of maternal health services
through the TRICARE program and improve patient
experience;
(iii) to improve continuity of prenatal
care and postpartum care for covered
individuals during a permanent change of
station; and
(iv) to improve the ability of contractors
under the TRICARE program to build a larger
network of providers for maternal health,
including obstetrician-gynecologists, certified
nurse midwives, and labor and delivery nurses.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
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