The Military Moms Act would, for TRICARE beneficiaries (military personnel and eligible dependents), add pregnancy and loss of pregnancy as qualifying life events that allow enrollment changes, and require a government study on maternal health access within the military health system. It directs the Department of Defense to update TRICARE guidance about what documentation is needed to enroll changes due to these life events (for example, a medical provider’s confirmation of pregnancy or loss). It also requires a comprehensive two-year follow-up report on access to maternal health care across both military medical facilities and TRICARE-network providers, addressing staffing, wait times, continuity of care during permanent changes of station, and desert regions with limited maternal care. In addition, the bill would create a publicly accessible, abortion-free Military Onesource resources page focused on maternal health, pregnancy support, and related services, plus training for counselors and a plan to disseminate the guide to beneficiaries. In short, the bill aims to improve access to and information about maternal health care for pregnant service members and their dependents, while increasing oversight and data on how well the military health system supports maternal health, and ensuring better information and support through Military OneSource.
Key Points
- 1Qualifying life events for TRICARE enrollment: The Secretary of Defense must update TRICARE to recognize pregnancy and loss of pregnancy as qualifying life events within one year, and provide guidance on required documentation (e.g., provider-confirmed pregnancy or pregnancy loss). Abortion cannot be treated as a qualifying life event.
- 2Definitions and scope: The bill defines maternal health (labor, birth, prenatal, postpartum care) and introduces “maternity care desert” (counties lacking a hospital/center offering obstetric care or an obstetric provider). It also defines abortion and loss of pregnancy (miscarriage or stillbirth).
- 3Mandatory maternal health study/report: Within two years, the Secretary must deliver a detailed report to key congressional committees evaluating access to maternal health care for beneficiaries, covering military facilities and TRICARE-affiliated providers. The report includes staffing shortages, access/timeliness, patient satisfaction tracking, continuity of prenatal and postpartum care during permanent changes of station, costs, and recommendations to address staffing, access, and network expansion.
- 4Reporting specifics for DoD facilities and TRICARE network: Separate analyses for DoD military treatment facilities and TRICARE-network providers, including staffing, barriers to continuity of care during PCS, wait and travel times, patient usage, costs, and recommended legislative or policy actions.
- 5Military Onesource program updates: Within one year, the Secretary must publish a dedicated, abortion-free resource guide on its website covering maternal health services, prenatal/postnatal information, mental health and pregnancy counseling, financial assistance, pregnancy resources near installations, and guidance for pregnant service members (including leave, career considerations, fitness, and uniforms). The Secretary must train counselors, notify the Military OneSource head of pregnancies, and develop a plan (within 540 days) to disseminate the guide.