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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.

U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Jon Tester (D-MT) and U.S. Representatives Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Terri Sewell (D-AL) 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.

• “Ensuring the well-being of our military families means addressing the unique challenges mothers face while they, or their spouses, serve in the military. 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.” – Senator Rubio

• “It’s critically important that mothers who are veterans, military spouses, or currently serving this country have access to quality, affordable health care. 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.” – Senator Tester

• “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. 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.” – Congresswoman Stefanik

• “Our service members and their families deserve access to reliable and quality health care all the time, and that includes maternity services. 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.” – Congresswoman Sewell

This legislation is supported by Military Family Advisory Network, Military Officers Association of America, National Military Family Association, and Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance.

Looking forward … Senator Rubio will continue to be a leader and advocate for the well-being of mothers and families.