Sec. 701. Improvement of postpartum care for certain members of the Armed Forces and dependents
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Chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1074o the following new section: At the intervals described in paragraph (2), and upon the consent of the covered individual, the Secretary shall furnish to a covered individual postpartum mental health assessments, which shall include screening questions related to postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression. The intervals described in this subparagraph are, with respect to the date on which the covered individual gives birth, as follows: One month after such date. Two months after such date. Four months after such date. Six months after such date. The Secretary may adjust the intervals described in paragraph
(2)as the Secretary determines appropriate, taking into account the recommendations of established professional medical associations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics. Postpartum mental health assessments furnished under paragraph
(1)may be provided concurrently with the well-child visits for the infant of the covered individual, including with respect to the initial well-child visit specified in subsection (c). Prior to the initial postpartum discharge of a covered individual from the military medical treatment facility at which the covered individual gave birth, the Secretary shall furnish to the covered individual a medical evaluation for pelvic health. The Secretary shall ensure that if, as the result of an evaluation furnished pursuant to paragraph (1), the health care provider who provided such evaluation determines that physical therapy for pelvic health (including the pelvic floor) is appropriate, a consultation for such physical therapy is provided upon discharge and in connection with a follow-up appointment of the covered individual for postpartum care that occurs during the period that is six to eight weeks after the date on which the covered individual gives birth. Consultations offered pursuant to paragraph
(2)shall be conducted in-person wherever possible, but if the Secretary determines that a covered individual for whom the consultation is offered is located in a geographic area with an inadequate number of physical therapists or health professionals trained in providing such consultations, the consultation may be provided through a telehealth appointment. The Secretary shall ensure that there is provided within each military medical treatment facility an option for any covered individual who has given birth at the facility, and who is eligible to receive care at the facility, to schedule a follow-up appointment for postpartum care of the covered individual that is concurrent with the date of the initial well-child visit for the infant of the covered individual. In this section: The term covered individual means a member of the armed forces (including the reserve components) performing active service, or a dependent of such member, who is entitled to medical care under this chapter. The term well-child visit means a regularly scheduled medical appointment with a pediatrician for the general health and development of a child, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics or a similarly established professional medical association. . The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1074o the following new item: 1074p. Postpartum care for certain members and dependents. . The amendments made by this subsection shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply with respect to births that occur on or after the date that is six months after the date of the enactment of this Act. Not later than after 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall— develop a standardized policy under which neither a member of the Armed Forces who gives birth while on active duty, nor a member of the reserve components who gives birth (regardless of whether such birth occurs while the member of the reserve components is performing active service), may be required to take a physical fitness test until the date that is one year after the date on which such member gave birth; develop a standardized policy for postpartum body composition assessments with respect to such members; and ensure the policies developed under paragraphs
(1)and
(2)are implemented uniformly across each of the Armed Forces. The Secretary shall carry out a one-year pilot program to further streamline the process of scheduling postpartum appointments at military medical treatment facilities by reducing the number of distinct visits required for such appointments. In carrying out the pilot program under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure that there is provided within each military medical treatment facility selected under paragraph
(3)an option for covered individuals who have recently given birth at the facility, and who are eligible to receive care at the facility, to receive a physical therapy evaluation in connection with each appointment provided by the facility for postpartum care of the covered individual or for care of the infant of the covered individual, including such appointments provided concurrently pursuant to section 1074p(c) of title 10, United 25 States Code (as added by subsection (a)). The Secretary shall select not fewer than three military medical treatment facilities from each military department at which to carry out the pilot program under paragraph (1). In making such selection— the Secretary may not select a military medical treatment facility that already provides covered individuals with the option to receive a physical therapy evaluation as specified in paragraph (2); and the Secretary shall ensure geographic diversity with respect to the location of the military medical treatment facilities, including by considering for selection military medical treatment facilities located outside of the United States. Not later than one year after the commencement of the pilot program under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report on the effectiveness of the pilot program. Such report shall include— a recommendation by the Secretary on whether to expand or extend the pilot program; and a summary of the findings that led to such recommendation. In this subsection, the term covered individual has the meaning given such term in section 1074p(d) of title 10, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)). The Secretary shall take such steps as are necessary to increase the capacity of military medical treatment facilities to provide pelvic health rehabilitation services, including by increasing the number of physical therapists employed at such facilities who are trained in pelvic health rehabilitation. The Secretary shall conduct a review of any current pelvic health rehabilitation programs of the Department of Defense, including an evaluation of the outcomes of any such programs. Not later than nine months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report containing the findings of the review under paragraph (1). Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue guidance on the development and implementation of standard protocols across the military health system for the treatment of obstetric hemorrhages, including through the use of pathogen reduced resuscitative blood products.