Sewell renews push for prenatal care access bill for military families

Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07), and U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Andy Kim (D-NJ) have renewed a push for a bill that Sewell says will improve access to prenatal care for military families. 

“Our military families make extraordinary sacrifices for our nation,” said Sewell in a press release. “The last thing they should have to worry about is accessing basic maternal health care services during a pregnancy. This legislation would empower expectant military families to choose the health care plan that best meets their needs."

"It is about ensuring that moms and babies can get the care they need whenever and wherever they need it. I am proud to partner with Senators Duckworth and Kim again in the 119th Congress as we work to get this bill passed and signed into law.”

The bill is titled the Improving Access to Prenatal Care for Military Families Act. 

As stated in past announcements the bill would create a Department of Defense (DoD) pilot program designating pregnancy as a "Qualifying Life Event" or QLE under the TRICARE program, which would allow dependents of military members to choose a health care plan to address their pregnancy needs.

“Expectant moms and their babies need quality care, but many military-connected mothers struggle to access that care,” said Besa Pinchotti, CEO of the National Military Family Association. “The Improving Access to Prenatal Care for Military Families Act will make pregnancy a qualifying life event, ensuring that pregnant moms and their babies get access to what they need. We’re grateful to Senators Duckworth and Kim as well as Representative Sewell for championing this critical issue for military families.”