[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2730 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2730
To include pregnancy and loss of pregnancy as qualifying life events
under the TRICARE program and to require a study on maternal health in
the military heath system, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 8, 2025
Ms. Mace (for herself, Ms. Stefanik, Mr. Wittman, and Mr. Turner of
Ohio) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Armed Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To include pregnancy and loss of pregnancy as qualifying life events
under the TRICARE program and to require a study on maternal health in
the military heath 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 ``Military Moms Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) 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.
(2) Maternal health.--The term ``maternal health'' means
care during labor, birthing, prenatal care, and postpartum
care.
(3) 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.
(4) Prenatal care.--The term ``prenatal care'' means
medical care provided to maintain and improve fetal and
maternal health during pregnancy.
(5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Defense.
SEC. 3. MODIFICATION OF QUALIFYING LIFE EVENTS.
(a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall--
(1) update the list of qualifying life events under the
TRICARE program to include pregnancy and loss of pregnancy; and
(2) issue guidance to covered beneficiaries describing the
documentation required to make enrollment changes under the
TRICARE program due to such qualifying life events, such as
written confirmation from a medical provider confirming a
pregnancy or loss of pregnancy.
(b) Prohibition.--This section shall not apply to a covered
beneficiary who seeks to claim an abortion as a qualifying life event.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Abortion.--The term ``abortion'' means the use or
prescription of any instrument, medicine, drug, or other
substance or device to intentionally--
(A) kill the unborn child of a woman known to be
pregnant; or
(B) prematurely terminate the pregnancy of a woman
known to be pregnant, with an intention other than to--
(i) increase the probability of a live
birth or preserve the life or health of the
child after a live birth;
(ii) remove a dead unborn child; or
(iii) treat an ectopic pregnancy.
(2) Loss of pregnancy.--The term ``loss of pregnancy''
means miscarriage or stillbirth.
SEC. 4. REPORT ON ACCESS TO MATERNAL HEALTH CARE WITHIN THE MILITARY
HEALTH SYSTEM.
(a) In General.--Not later than two 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 beneficiaries during the
preceding two-year period.
(b) Contents.--The report required under subsection (a) shall
include the following:
(1) With respect to military medical treatment facilities,
the following:
(A) An analysis of the availability of maternal
health care for covered beneficiaries 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 beneficiaries 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 beneficiaries 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 beneficiaries who receive
maternal health care 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 beneficiaries 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
beneficiaries 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, the following:
(A) An analysis of the availability of maternal
health care for covered beneficiaries 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 beneficiaries 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 beneficiaries 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 beneficiaries 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
beneficiaries 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.
SEC. 5. UPDATES TO MILITARY ONESOURCE PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall publish on a publicly
available website of the Military OneSource program of the Department
of Defense a dedicated webpage that includes a comprehensive guide of
resources available to covered beneficiaries, including--
(1) a list of maternal health services that are available
to covered beneficiaries under the TRICARE program and at
military medical treatment facilities;
(2) information on mental health counseling, pregnancy
counseling, and other prepartum and postpartum services,
including what services are reportable or non-reportable for
members of the Armed Forces;
(3) information on prenatal development, including
anticipated prenatal appointments and available care for
covered beneficiaries during prenatal development;
(4) information on--
(A) organizations that provide services and other
resources to assist covered beneficiaries with maternal
health needs and pregnancy support services located at,
or in vicinity of, military installations; and
(B) Federal, State, and local maternal health care
resources that are either covered by the TRICARE
program or could otherwise be made available to a
covered beneficiary;
(5) information on resources to assist covered
beneficiaries who are pregnant with anticipated changes and
health challenges that result from pregnancy, including
information on anticipated postnatal appointments, available
postnatal care for covered beneficiaries, and post-birth
instructions specific to covered beneficiaries;
(6) information on financial assistance available to
covered beneficiaries to support pregnancy needs;
(7) a best practice guide for smooth continuity of
pregnancy care during a permanent change of station; and
(8) information specific to pregnant members of the Armed
Forces, including leave options and regulations, career field
specific information and restrictions, physical fitness
requirements, and uniform resources and requirements.
(b) Limitations.--The guide required by subsection (a) may not
include information, references, or resources on abortion.
(c) Training.--The Secretary shall provide training to military and
family life counselors available through the Military OneSource program
on addressing the non-medical needs of covered beneficiaries who are
pregnant.
(d) Notification of Pregnancy.--The Secretary shall notify the head
of the Military OneSource program when a covered beneficiary makes the
Secretary aware of a pregnancy.
(e) Plan.--Not later than 540 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Secretary shall develop and submit to Congress a plan
for the Secretary to disseminate to beneficiaries of the Military
OneSource program the guide required by subsection (a).
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