Improving Access to Prenatal Care for Military Families Act
Summary
The "Improving Access to Prenatal Care for Military Families Act" directs the Secretary of Defense to establish a five-year pilot program. This program would treat pregnancy as a qualifying event for enrollment in TRICARE Select. The goal is to improve access to prenatal care for military families.
Expected Effects
This act will likely increase enrollment in TRICARE Select among pregnant military families. It also mandates regular reporting to Congress on the program's progress and impact. This will provide data on enrollment changes and the reasons behind them.
Potential Benefits
- Improved access to prenatal care for military families.
- Increased healthcare options for pregnant service members and their dependents.
- Data collection and reporting to Congress to assess the program's effectiveness.
- Potential for long-term policy changes based on the pilot program's results.
- Addresses a specific need within the military community.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential increase in costs for the TRICARE program.
- Administrative burden of implementing and managing the pilot program.
- Possible delays in accessing care due to increased enrollment.
- The five-year pilot program duration may be too short to assess long-term impacts.
- Limited scope, focusing only on TRICARE Select enrollment.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the Constitution's general welfare clause (Preamble). Congress has the power to provide for the common defense, which includes the health and well-being of military families. The bill does not appear to infringe on any specific constitutional rights.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).