Zonta International is a global organization of individuals dedicated to building a better world for women and girls. The Zonta USA Advocacy Action Center is a tool for our members in the United States and other individuals who share our commitment to gender equality to take action to improve the lives of women and girls. With your help, we can make a difference. In addition to the actions below, click here to support our joint efforts with UNICEF USA to end child marriage in the United States.
The bipartisan Improving Access to Maternal Health for Military and Dependent Moms Act (S. 3722 and H.R. 7214) was introduced by U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Jon Tester (D-MT) in the Senate and by U.S Representatives Terri Sewell (D-AL) and Elise Stefanik (R-NY) in the House. The bill requires the U.S. Department of Defense to provide Congress with a comprehensive study on access to maternal healthcare in our military health system. Gaining more information will help to identify and address challenges.
This bill will assist in guaranteeing the same maternal care civilians receive through TRICARE is also available to those in the military. Further research into the military maternal healthcare system will ensure adequate, available, and local prenatal and postnatal care. There are times that expecting mothers are being turned away from hospitals on military installations due to shortages in full-service medical staff, or they are forced to travel long distances to receive the care that they need, especially in rural areas. Along with the added stresses of serving in the military, this is one thing our government and healthcare system can do to relieve some of those life anxieties to these heroic persons.
The Improving Access to Maternal Health for Military and Dependent Moms Act will require a report to Congress covering: an analysis of the availability of maternal healthcare, staffing shortages in positions relating to pregnancy and childbirth, description of challenges faced by beneficiaries in accessing maternal healthcare, analysis of timeliness of access to care, including wait times for appointments, and budget needs.
“Our service members and their families deserve access to reliable and quality health care all the time, and that includes maternity services,” said Rep. Sewell. “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.”
Please use our pre-drafted letters to urge your senators and representatives to co-sponsor and support the Improving Access to Maternal Health for Military and Dependent Moms Act. If they have already sponsored or co-sponsored the bill, you can send a message of thanks.