S 796 — Protecting Moms Who Served Act of 2021

[Congressional[117th BillsCongress 117thPublic Congress]Law 69] [From the U.S.

Government Publishing Office] [S.[[Page 135 STAT.

7961495]] EngrossedPublic inLaw Senate117-69 (ES)]117th <DOC>Congress 117thAn CONGRESSAct 1stTo Sessioncodify S.maternity care coordination programs at the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

796<<NOTE: _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To codify maternity care coordination programs at the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

BeNov. it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1.

30, 2021 - [S.

796]>> Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE:

Protecting Moms Who Served Act of 2021.

38 USC 101 note.>> SECTION 1.

DEFINITIONS.<<NOTE:

38 USC 1703 note.>> DEFINITIONS.

(6) Severe maternal morbidity.--The term ``severe maternal morbidity'' means a health condition, including a mental health condition or substance use disorder, attributed to or aggravated by pregnancy or childbirth that results in significant short-termshort- term or long-term consequences to the health of the individual who was pregnant.

SEC.[[Page 135 STAT.

1496]] SEC.

(a) GAO<<NOTE: Report.--Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives, and make publicly available, a report on maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity among pregnant and postpartum veterans, with a particular focus on racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes for veterans.

(b)Public Mattersinformation.>> Included.--TheGAO reportReport.--Not underlater subsectionthan (a)two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall includesubmit to the following:Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives, and make publicly available, a report on maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity among pregnant and postpartum veterans, with a particular focus on racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes for veterans.

(1)(b) To<<NOTE: the extent practicable-- (A) the number of pregnant and postpartum veterans who have experienced a pregnancy-related death or pregnancy-associated death in the most recent 10 years of available data;

Assessments.

Recommenda- tions.>> Matters Included.-- The report under subsection (a) shall include the following:

(1) To the extent practicable-- (A) <<NOTE:

Time period.

Data.>> the number of pregnant and postpartum veterans who have experienced a pregnancy-related death or pregnancy-associated death in the most recent 10 years of available data;

(C) the<<NOTE: number of cases of severe maternal morbidity among pregnant and postpartum veterans in the most recent year of available data;

Time period.

Data.>> the number of cases of severe maternal morbidity among pregnant and postpartum veterans in the most recent year of available data;

(E)[[Page identification135 ofSTAT. the causes of maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity that are unique to veterans, including post-traumatic stress disorder, military sexual trauma, and infertility or miscarriages that may be caused by service in the Armed Forces;

1497]] (E) identification of the causes of maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity that are unique to veterans, including post-traumatic stress disorder, military sexual trauma, and infertility or miscarriages that may be caused by service in the Armed Forces;

(H) the<<NOTE: number of veterans who have been diagnosed with infertility by a health care provider of the Veterans Health Administration each year in the most recent five years, disaggregated by age, race, ethnicity, sex, marital status, and geographical location;

(I)Time period.>> the number of veterans who have receivedbeen adiagnosed clinicalwith diagnosis of unexplained infertility by a health care provider of the Veterans Health Administration each year in the most recent five years;years, disaggregated by age, race, ethnicity, sex, marital status, and geographical location;

(I) <<NOTE:

Time period.>> the number of veterans who have received a clinical diagnosis of unexplained infertility by a health care provider of the Veterans Health Administration each year in the most recent five years;

(2) An<<NOTE: assessment of the barriers to determining the information required under paragraph (1) and recommendations for improvements in tracking maternal health outcomes among pregnant and postpartum veterans who-- (A) have health care coverage through the Department;

Determination.>> An assessment of the barriers to determining the information required under paragraph (1) and recommendations for improvements in tracking maternal health outcomes among pregnant and postpartum veterans who-- (A) have health care coverage through the Department;

(7)[[Page Recommendations135 toSTAT. improve coordination of care between the Department and non-Department facilities for pregnant and postpartum veterans, including recommendations to improve-- (A) health record interoperability;

1498]] (7) Recommendations to improve coordination of care between the Department and non-Department facilities for pregnant and postpartum veterans, including recommendations to improve-- (A) health record interoperability;

PassedApproved theNovember Senate30, October 7, 2021.

Attest:LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S.

Secretary.796 (H.R.

117th958): CONGRESS 1st Session S.

796--------------------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________________________________HOUSE ANREPORTS: ACT To codify maternity care coordination programs at the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.