I 
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 Representa-
tives 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— 
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(A) a covered beneficiary; or 
(B) a dependent. 
(2) 
COVERED
BENEFICIARY; 
DEPENDENT; 
TRICARE
PROGRAM.—The terms ‘‘covered bene-
ficiary’’, ‘‘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 ob-
stetric 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 sub-
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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 individuals, during the preceding 2 year period. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The report required under sub-
section (a) shall include the following: 
(1) With respect to military medical treatment 
facilities: 
(A) An analysis of the availability of ma-
ternal 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 mater-
nal 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. 
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(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 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 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. 
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(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 indi-
viduals 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: 
(A) An analysis of the availability of ma-
ternal health care for covered individuals who 
access the military health system through such 
providers. 
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(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 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 indi-
viduals during a permanent change of sta-
tion; and 
(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, 
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certified nurse midwives, and labor and de-
livery nurses. 
Æ 
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