,,ii #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #dfid ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,june #d1 #bjbf,ms4 ,duckworth 7for herself and ,ms4 ,collins7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to amend title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 to require the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs to carry out a maternity care coordination program1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,maternal ,health for ,veterans ,act4 #b4 ,maternity health care coordination program of ,department of ,veterans ,affairs 7a7 ,in general ,subchapter ,,viii of chapter #ag of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by inserting after section #aghf the following new section3 #aghf;,a4 ,maternity care coordination 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall carry out a maternity care coordination program for eligible veterans4 7b7 ,requirements ,in carrying out the program under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 provide care to eligible veterans from the beginning of pregnancy until #ab months postpartum2 7#b7 systematically and regularly compile and review data on screenings by maternity care coordinators of eligible veterans for mental health conditions1 including data on completion by such coordinators of required mental health screenings and the results of such screenings2 and 7#c7 implement a performance management process that-- 7,a7 identifies desired program results and requisite performance goals for the program2 and 7,b7 collects and uses performance information to measure progress towards program goals4 7c7 ,training and support to community maternity care providers ,in carrying out the program under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall provide to community maternity care providers training and support with respect to the unique needs of pregnant and postpartum eligible veterans1 particularly regarding mental and behavioral health conditions relating to the service of such veterans in the uniformed services4 7d7 ,annual report 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section1 and annually thereafter1 the ,secretary shall submit to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives a report that contains the following3 7,a7 ,a summary of the activities carried out under the program required by subsection 7a74 7,b7 ,data on maternal health outcomes1 including maternal mortality1 pregnancy-associated deaths1 pregnancy-related deaths1 and severe maternal morbidity1 of eligible veterans who receive hospital care or medical services furnished at a facility of the ,department or by a health care provider described in section #agjc7;c7 of this title who provides such care or services to veterans under such section and other laws administered by the ,secretary1 disaggregated by relevant veteran characteristics1 such as race and ethnicity1 age1 disability1 and whether the eligible veteran lives in a rural area4 7,c7 ,progress on implementation of relevant recommendations on improvements to the program made by1 at minimum1 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states1 the ,inspector ,general of the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs1 the ,secretary 7based on previous annual reports1 if applicable71 and an explanation if the ,secretary chooses to not implement a recommendation4 7,d7 ,recommendations by the ,secretary1 if any1 to improve the maternal health outcomes of eligible veterans1 with a particular focus on eligible veterans from demographic groups with elevated rates of maternal mortality1 pregnancy-associated deaths 7including pregnancy-related deaths71 severe maternal morbidity1 maternal health disparities1 or other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes1 including eligible veterans who belong to one or more racial and ethnic minority group1 who identify as having a disability or more than one disability1 or who live in a rural area4 7#b7 ,provision of information ,the ,secretary shall provide the data required under paragraph 7#a7 in a manner that is wholly consistent with applicable ,federal privacy and confidentiality laws1 including section #eeb;a of title #e 7commonly known as the ,privacy ,act of #aigd71 the ,health ,insurance ,portability and ,accountability ,act of #aiif 7,public ,law #ajd-aia71 relevant regulations1 including parts #afj and #afd of title #de1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or successor regulations71 and sections #egja1 #egje1 and #gccb of this title to ensure that such data1 or any portion of such data1 will not undermine the anonymity of a veteran4 7e7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,community maternity care provider ,the term community maternity care provider means a maternity care provider located at a non-,department facility who provides maternity care to veterans under section #agjc of this title1 or any other law administered by the ,secretary4 7#b7 ,disability ,the term disability has the meaning given that term in section #c of the ,americans with ,disabilities ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abajb74 7#c7 ,eligible veteran ,the term eligible veteran means a veteran enrolled in the system of annual patient enrollment of the ,department established and operated under section #agje of this title4 7#d7 ,maternal mortality ,the term maternal mortality means a death occurring during or within a one-year period after pregnancy1 caused by pregnancy-related or childbirth complications1 including a suicide1 overdose1 or other death resulting from a mental health or substance use disorder attributed to or aggravated by pregnancy-related or childbirth complications4 7#e7 ,maternity care provider ,the term maternity care provider means a health care provider who-- 7,a7 is a physician1 a physician assistant1 a midwife who meets1 at a minimum1 the international definition of a midwife and global standards for midwifery education as established by the ,international ,confederation of ,midwives1 an advanced practice registered nurse1 a doula accredited by a ,state to receive reimbursement for doula services under a ,state plan 7or a waiver of such plan7 under title ,,xix of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acif et seq471 or a lactation consultant certified by the ,international ,board of ,lactation ,consultant ,examiners2 and 7,b7 has a focus on maternal or perinatal health4 7#f7 ,postpartum ,the term postpartum1 with respect to an individual1 means the one-year period beginning on the last day of the pregnancy of the individual4 7#g7 ,pregnancy-associated death ,the term pregnancy-associated death means the death of a pregnant or postpartum individual1 by any cause1 that occurs during pregnancy or within one year following pregnancy1 regardless of the outcome1 duration1 or site of the pregnancy4 7#h7 ,pregnancy-related death ,the term pregnancy-related death means the death of a pregnant or postpartum individual that occurs during pregnancy or within one year following pregnancy from a pregnancy complication1 a chain of events initiated by pregnancy1 or the aggravation of an unrelated condition by the physiologic effects of pregnancy4 7#i7 ,racial and ethnic minority group ,the term racial and ethnic minority group has the meaning given that term in section #agjg of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjju-#f74 7#aj7 ,rural ,the term rural has the meaning given that term under the ,rural-,urban ,commuting ,areas 7,,ruca7 coding system of the ,department of ,agriculture4 7#aa7 ,severe maternal morbidity ,the term severe maternal morbidity means a health condition1 including a mental health condition or substance use disorder1 attributed to or aggravated by pregnancy or childbirth that results in significant short-term or long-term consequences to the health of the individual who was pregnant4 4 7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section #aghf the following new item3 #aghf;,a4 ,maternity ,care ,coordination44 7c7 ,conforming repeal ,section #c of the ,protecting ,moms ,who ,served ,act of #bjba 7,public ,law #aag-fi2 #ace ,stat4 #adif7 is repealed4