[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.
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