Bill > HR2730

This bill aims to improve maternal healthcare support for military families by making several key changes to the TRICARE program (the health insurance system for military personnel and their dependents). First, the bill requires the Secretary of Defense to update TRICARE's qualifying life events to include pregnancy and loss of pregnancy, allowing beneficiaries to make enrollment changes with appropriate medical documentation. The bill explicitly excludes abortion from these qualifying events. Additionally, the bill mandates a comprehensive two-year report on maternal healthcare access within the military health system, which will analyze challenges such as staffing shortages, patient wait times, care continuity during military relocations, and out-of-pocket costs. The legislation also requires the Military OneSource program to create a publicly available webpage with comprehensive resources for pregnant beneficiaries, including information on prenatal and postnatal care, mental health counseling, financial assistance, and specific guidance for pregnant service members. The webpage is prohibited from including abortion-related information, and the bill requires the Secretary to train counselors to address the non-medical needs of pregnant beneficiaries. Ultimately, the bill seeks to enhance support and healthcare access for military mothers and their families.

Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2730/all-info