The MIDWIVES for Service Members Act of 2025: A New Approach to Maternity Care

A new bill has been introduced in the US Congress aimed at improving maternity care for military personnel and their families. The MIDWIVES for Service Members Act of 2025 (H.R. 3202 IH) is a bipartisan effort that seeks to provide midwife services to covered beneficiaries under the TRICARE program.

What does the bill propose?

The bill proposes a five-year pilot program to provide midwife services to covered beneficiaries under the TRICARE program. If successful, the Secretary of Defense may prescribe regulations to establish a permanent program making midwife services available to covered beneficiaries.

1. Not later than 180 days after enactment, the Secretary shall submit a plan to implement the pilot program.
2. Not later than one year after the date on which the pilot program begins and annually thereafter until the date that is one year after the termination of the pilot program, the Secretary shall submit an annual report to Congress.

Key provisions of the bill:

The bill includes several key provisions, including:

• The total cost of the pilot program and the cost per covered beneficiary who received care under the pilot program.
• The total number of covered beneficiaries served by the pilot program.
• A detailed assessment of the effectiveness of the pilot program.

Who is eligible for midwife services under the TRICARE program?

In this section, the terms "covered beneficiary" and "TRICARE program" have the meanings given such terms in section 1072 of title 10, United States Code. A covered midwife means a certified professional midwife or certified midwife who meets the international definition of a midwife, and global standards for midwifery education.

Read the full text of H.R. 3202 IH and learn more about this important initiative to improve maternity care for military personnel and their families.