[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 115 (Thursday, July 11, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4807-S4808]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 2485. Mr. RUBIO (for himself and Mr. Braun) submitted an amendment
intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4638, to authorize
appropriations for fiscal year 2025 for military activities of the
Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense
activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel
strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle C of title VII, add the following:
SEC. 727. IMPROVING ACCESS TO MATERNAL HEALTH FOR MILITARY
AND DEPENDENT MOMS ACT OF 2024.
(a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the
``Improving Access to Maternal Health for Military and
Dependent Moms Act of 2024''.
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(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.
(c) Report on Access to Maternal Health Care Within the
Military Health System.--
(1) 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.
(2) Contents.--The report required under paragraph (1)
shall include the following:
(A) With respect to military medical treatment facilities:
(i) An analysis of the availability of maternal health care
for covered individuals who access the military health system
through such facilities.
(ii) An identification of staffing shortages in positions
relating to maternal health and childbirth, including
obstetrician-gynecologists, certified nurse midwives, and
labor and delivery nurses.
(iii) A description of specific challenges faced by covered
individuals in accessing maternal health care at such
facilities.
(iv) An analysis of the timeliness of access to maternal
health care, including wait times for and travel times to
appointments.
(v) A description of how such facilities track patient
satisfaction with maternal health services.
(vi) A process to establish continuity of prenatal care and
postpartum care for covered individuals who experience a
permanent change of station during a pregnancy.
(vii) An identification of barriers with regard to
continuity of prenatal care and postpartum care during
permanent changes of station.
(viii) 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.
(ix) 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.
(x) An identification of each medical facility of the
Department of Defense located in a maternity care desert.
(xi) Recommendations and legislative proposals--
(I) to address staffing shortages that impact the positions
described in clause (ii);
(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.
(B) With respect to providers within the TRICARE program
network that are not located at or affiliated with a military
medical treatment facility:
(i) An analysis of the availability of maternal health care
for covered individuals who access the military health system
through such providers.
(ii) An identification of staffing shortages for such
providers in positions relating to
[[Page S4808]]
maternal health and childbirth, including obstetrician-
gynecologists, certified nurse midwives, and labor and
delivery nurses.
(iii) A description of specific challenges faced by covered
individuals in accessing maternal health care from such
providers.
(iv) An analysis of the timeliness of access to maternal
health care, including wait times for and travel times to
appointments.
(v) A description of how such providers track patient
satisfaction with maternal health services.
(vi) A process to establish continuity of prenatal care and
postpartum care for covered individuals who experience a
permanent change of station during a pregnancy.
(vii) An identification of barriers with regard to
continuity of prenatal care and postpartum care during
permanent changes of station.
(viii) The number of dependents who choose to access
maternal health care through such providers.
(ix) 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.
(x) Recommendations and legislative proposals--
(I) to address staffing shortages that impact the positions
described in clause (ii);
(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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