I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 9022 
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 
JULY 11, 2024 
Ms. STEFANIK 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 Representa-
tives 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 bene-
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ficiary’’, ‘‘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 ob-
stetric 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 de-
scribing the documentation required to make enroll-
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ment changes under the TRICARE program due to 
such qualifying life events, such as written confirma-
tion 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 in-
tention 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. 
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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 sub-
mit to the Committee on Armed Services and the Com-
mittee 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 ma-
ternal health care within the military health system for 
covered beneficiaries during the preceding two-year period. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The report required under sub-
section (a) shall include the following: 
(1) With respect to military medical treatment 
facilities, the following: 
(A) An analysis of the availability of ma-
ternal 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 ma-
ternal health care at such facilities. 
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(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 re-
gard to continuity of prenatal care and 
postpartum care during permanent changes of 
station. 
(H) A description of military-specific 
health challenges impacting covered bene-
ficiaries who receive maternal health care at 
military medical treatment facilities, and a de-
scription 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 
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(ii) by covered beneficiaries on out-of- 
pocket costs associated with maternal 
health care. 
(J) An identification of each medical facil-
ity of the Department of Defense located in a 
maternity care desert. 
(K) Recommendations and legislative pro-
posals— 
(i) to address staffing shortages that 
impact the positions described in subpara-
graph (B); 
(ii) to improve the delivery and avail-
ability 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 bene-
ficiaries during a permanent change of sta-
tion. 
(2) With respect to providers within the 
TRICARE program network that are not located at 
or affiliated with a military medical treatment facil-
ity, the following: 
(A) An analysis of the availability of ma-
ternal health care for covered beneficiaries who 
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access the military health system through such 
providers. 
(B) An identification of staffing shortages 
for such providers in positions relating to ma-
ternal health and childbirth, including obstetri-
cian-gynecologists, certified nurse midwives, and 
labor and delivery nurses. 
(C) A description of specific challenges 
faced by covered beneficiaries in accessing ma-
ternal 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 re-
gard to continuity of prenatal care and 
postpartum care during permanent changes of 
station. 
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(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 pro-
posals— 
(i) to address staffing shortages that 
impact the positions described in subpara-
graph (B); 
(ii) to improve the delivery and avail-
ability of maternal health services through 
the TRICARE program and improve pa-
tient experience; 
(iii) to improve continuity of prenatal 
care and postpartum care for covered bene-
ficiaries during a permanent change of sta-
tion; and 
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(iv) to improve the ability of contrac-
tors under the TRICARE program to build 
a larger network of providers for maternal 
health, including obstetrician-gynecologists, 
certified nurse midwives, and labor and de-
livery 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 pub-
lish on a publicly available website of the Military 
OneSource program of the Department of Defense a dedi-
cated webpage that includes a comprehensive guide of re-
sources 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 treat-
ment facilities; 
(2) information on mental health counseling, 
pregnancy counseling, and other prepartum and 
postpartum services, including what services are re-
portable or non-reportable for members of the 
Armed Forces; 
(3) information on prenatal development, in-
cluding anticipated prenatal appointments and avail-
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able 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 sup-
port services located at, or in vicinity of, mili-
tary 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 preg-
nancy, including information on anticipated post-
natal appointments, available postnatal care for cov-
ered beneficiaries, and post-birth instructions spe-
cific 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 
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(8) information specific to pregnant members of 
the Armed Forces, including leave options and regu-
lations, career field specific information and restric-
tions, physical fitness requirements, and uniform re-
sources 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-med-
ical 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 dis-
seminate to beneficiaries of the Military OneSource pro-
gram the guide required by subsection (a). 
Æ 
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