The MIDWIVES for Service Members Act of 2024 directs the Department of Defense to launch a five-year pilot program starting within one year of enactment that makes midwife services available to military families and retirees covered under the TRICARE health insurance program. The program will provide care from certified professional midwives and certified midwives who meet international standards and state licensing requirements. The Secretary of Defense must submit an implementation plan within 180 days and then provide annual reports measuring outcomes including costs, number of beneficiaries served, maternal and fetal health results, patient satisfaction, wait times, and access to care, with recommendations on whether to make the program permanent. If the pilot program proves successful, the Secretary may establish a permanent midwife services program for TRICARE beneficiaries. The legislation aims to improve maternity care options and outcomes for military families while evaluating potential cost savings from improved maternal and fetal health.
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