Public Law 117-69 passed November 30, 2021
Protecting Moms Who Served Act of 2021
Definitions
Maternal Mortality
A death occurring during pregnancy or within one year after pregnancy caused by pregnancy related or childbirth complications, including
suicide, overdose or other death resulting from mental health or substance use disorder attributed to or aggravated by pregnancy-related or childbirth complications.
Postpartum
The one year period beginning on the last day of the pregnancy of the individual.
Pregnancy-Associated Death
The death of a pregnant or postpartum individual, by any cause.
Pregnancy-Related Death
The death of a pregnant or postpartum individual, from a pregnancy complication, a chain of events initiated by pregnancy, or the aggravation of an unrelated condition by the physiologic effects of pregnancy.
Racial and Ethnic Minority Group Section 1707(g)(1) (42 USC 300u-6(g)(1)
The term “racial and ethnic minority group” means American Indians (including Alaska Natives, Eskimos, and Aleuts); Asian Americans; Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders; Blacks; and Hispanics.
Severe Maternal Morbidity
A health condition, including mental health condition or substance use disorder, attributed or aggravated by pregnancy or childbirth resulting in significant short-term or long-term consequences to the health of the individual.
Support by Department of Veterans Affairs of Maternity Care Coordination
Program on Maternity Care Coordiantion
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs will carry out this program described in Veterans Health Administration Directive 1330.03.
Training and Support
The Secretary shall provide to community maternity care providers training and support of the unique needs of pregnant and postpartum veterans, particularly mental and behavioral health relating to service in the Armed Forces.
Authorization of Appropriations
$15,000,000 for fiscal year 2022
Supplement NOT Supplant
This amount is authorized in addition to any other amount authorized for maternity health care and coordination for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Definitions:
Community Maternity Care Providers: maternity care providers located at non-Department facilities who provide maternity care to veterans under (section 1703 Title 38 USC) or any other law administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Non-Department Facilities: (section 1703 Title 38 USC)** The term "non-Department facilities" means facilities other than Department facilities.
Report on Maternal Mortality and Severe Maternal Morbidity Among Pregnant and Postpartum Veterans
Government Accountability Report
No later than 2 years after the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States will submit to the Committee on Veterans Affairs and make publicly available a report on maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity among pregnant and postpartum veterans with focus on racial and ethic disparities in maternal health outcomes for veterans.
Matters Included
the number of pregnant and postpartum veterans who have experienced a pregnancy-related death or pregnancy-associated death in the most recent 10 years
rate of pregnancy-related per 100,000 live births
the number of cases of severe maternal morbidity in the most recent year of available data
an assessment of the racial and ethnic disparities in maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity rates.
identification of the cause maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity that are unique to veterans including:
post-traumatic stress disorder
military sexual trauma
infertility or miscarriages
identification of the cause maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity that are unique to veterans including:
racial and ethnic minority groups and
other at-risk populations as the Comptroller General considers appropriate
identification of any coronation between rank of veterans and their maternal health outcomes
number of veterans who have been diagnosed with infertility each year in the most recent five years, disaggregated by age, race, ethnicity, sex, marital status, and geographical location.
number of veterans who have received a clinical diagnosis of unexplained infertility each year in the most recent one years.
assessment of the extent to which the rate of incidence of clinically diagnosed infertility among veterans compare to civilian population.
An assessment of the barriers to determine the information required and recommendations for improvement who:
have health care coverage through the Department
are enrolled in the TRICARE program (Sec 1072 Title 10 USC)
have employer-based or private insurance
Enrolled in Medicaid under (Title XIX (Social Security Act) 42 USC 1396)
Eligible to receive health care by Indian Health Services; Tribal health programs or Urban Indian organizations or uninsured.
Recommendations for legislative and administrative actions to increase access to mental and behavioral health care for pregnant and postpartum veterans who screen positive for maternal mental or behavioral health conditions.
Recommendations to address homelessness, food insecurity, poverty and related issues among pregnant and postpartum veterans.
Recommendations on how to educate maternity care providers on best practices for providing maternity care services to veterans.
Recommendations to reduce maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity and to address racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes for each group described.
Recommendations to improve coordination of care between Department and non-Department facilities, including recommendations to improve
health record interoperability
training for the directors of the Veterans Integrated Service Networks, directors of medical facilities of the Department, chiefs of staff, maternity care coordinators, and staff of relevant non-department facilities.
An assessment of the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to access maternal health data collected by the Department of Health and Human Services, and if applicable, recommendations to increase such authority.
An assessment of potential causes or explanation for lower maternal mortality rates among veterans who have health care coverage though the Department of Veterans Affairs compared to the general population of the United States.
Any information the Comptroller General determines appropriate with respect to the documented information of this Act.