Washington D.C. — U.S. Reps. Terri Sewell (D-AL) and Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Jon Tester (D-MT) introduced the Improving Access to Maternal Health for Military and Dependent Moms Act to require the U.S. Department of Defense to provide Congress with a comprehensive study on access to maternal health care within the Military Health Service for service members and their dependents.

Maternal health care is not always readily available to women serving in the military or their family members. Recent studies have demonstrated low patient satisfaction for obstetric care in military health facilities despite pregnancy and childbirth being the top reasons for inpatient admissions at military treatment facilities. Moreover, additional stress on mothers from military service and station changes make it challenging to seek the necessary resources. We need further information to identify and address these challenges.

“Our service members and their families deserve access to reliable and quality health care all the time, and that includes maternity services,” said Rep. Sewell. “To better serve our expecting service members and their spouses, we need to better understand the challenges they face while attempting to access care. I’m proud to co-lead this bill which will continue to improve maternal health care for the very families who protect our nation.”

“I am proud to lead the Improving Access to Maternal Health for Military and Dependent Moms Act to ensure our service members and their families have adequate, available, and local prenatal and postnatal care,” said Rep. Stefanik. “Our service members and their families endure many hardships, ensuring accessible maternal healthcare should not be one of them. As a mom, it is despicable to read reports of expecting mothers being turned away from hospitals on military installations due to a shortage in full-service medical staff. Service members and their families selflessly serve our nation and it is our responsibility to take care of them and their families during the most important moments of their lives.”

“Ensuring the well-being of our military families means addressing the unique challenges mothers face while they, or their spouses, serve in the military,” said Sen. Rubio. “The Improving Access to Maternal Health for Military and Dependent Moms Act is a crucial step towards understanding and overcoming the obstacles to maternal health care within the Military Health System.”

“It’s critically important that mothers who are veterans, military spouses, or currently serving this country have access to quality, affordable health care,” said Sen. Tester. “Our bill will help make sure female servicemembers and military spouses can access the same care as civilians through TRICARE, and ensure we live up to the promises we make to them when they sign up to serve our nation.”

This legislation is supported by Military Family Advisory Network, Military Officers Association of America, and National Military Family Association.

Bill text is available here.