HR 3202, the MIDWIVES for Service Members Act of 2025, creates a 5-year pilot program to provide certified midwife services to military service members and their families through the TRICARE health plan. The program requires the Secretary of Defense to begin implementation within one year of enactment, with detailed annual reports on costs, patient outcomes, satisfaction, and access metrics. It mandates that midwives meet international standards and state licensing requirements, focusing on maternal and infant health outcomes like preterm births and C-section rates. The pilot’s success would determine if midwife services become a permanent TRICARE benefit.
HR 3866, the Maternal and Infant Syphilis Prevention Act, requires the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to issue federal guidance to states within 12 months. This guidance directs state Medicaid programs, Children's Health Insurance Programs (CHIP), and tribal health programs on improving syphilis screening for pregnant women - specifically emphasizing third-trimester and delivery testing - and expanding access to treatment. It also mandates best practices for provider education, telehealth integration, multilingual resources, and patient outreach to prevent congenital syphilis. The bill directly affects pregnant women, newborns, and healthcare providers operating under state health programs, aiming to reduce preventable infant deaths and health complications linked to untreated syphilis during pregnancy.
HR 4484 (ADAPT Act) adds Medicare coverage for psychological services provided by supervised trainees - doctoral interns or postdoctoral residents in APA-accredited programs under licensed psychologists' supervision. It requires a new billing code (GC modifier) for these services and directs the Health Secretary to issue Medicaid/CHIP guidance to states on implementing similar coverage, including recommended billing codes and state examples. The bill directly affects trainees seeking licensure and their supervising psychologists by enabling federal billing for their services. States would use the guidance to adjust coverage policies for trainee services under Medicaid and CHIP programs.
The Family Vaccine Protection Act makes the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) an official part of federal law, requiring it to provide vaccine recommendations based on strong scientific evidence. It mandates that the CDC Director must adopt ACIP's recommendations unless they don't meet the evidence standard, and if not adopted, the CDC must explain its decision and notify Congress within 48 hours. The bill establishes procedures for ACIP to review new vaccines within 90 days of licensure and to consider breakthrough therapies or public health emergencies. This act aims to strengthen transparency and evidence-based decision-making in vaccine recommendations for the public health system. It affects the CDC, ACIP, and Congress through formalized processes for vaccine policy development.
The Keep Kids Covered Act extends continuous health coverage under Medicaid and CHIP for children. It requires states to maintain coverage for children under age 6 for six years (previously one year) and for children under age 19 for two years (previously one year), without requiring reapplication. Former foster youth will now remain covered until age 26. States must also annually update contact information for enrolled children and inform them about their coverage status and remaining eligibility period.
HR 5828, the Dads Matter Act of 2025, requires the Health and Human Services Department to launch a public awareness campaign about fathers' roles in pregnancy and postpartum care, and to issue guidance to states on training healthcare providers (like hospitals and doctors) to better include fathers. The bill aims to improve maternal and infant health outcomes by encouraging providers to discuss topics such as father involvement in prenatal visits, skin-to-skin contact, breastfeeding support, and recognizing maternal health risks. It directs HHS to provide resources countering narratives that minimize fathers' roles and to address cultural barriers to father engagement. A government study will later assess the bill's effectiveness after six years.
This bill creates a process for establishing Medicare payment rates for pediatric-specific medical devices. It requires the Medicare program (via the Secretary of Health and Human Services) to set national payment rates (called "relative value units") for qualifying pediatric technologies upon manufacturer request, starting in 2026. A "qualifying pediatric technology" is defined as a covered medical device that is FDA-approved/cleared, has a temporary HCPCS code, and is either predominantly used for pediatric procedures or specifically designed for children. Manufacturers must submit detailed data with their requests, and the timeline for setting rates depends on when the request is received (by May 1 for same-year implementation). The bill does not mandate coverage but ensures payment mechanisms exist for these devices once approved.
HRES 231 (introduced March 18, 2025) is a symbolic resolution designating March 14, 2025, as "Black Midwives Day" to honor Black midwives' historical and ongoing role in improving maternal and infant health. It recognizes how Black midwives provide culturally competent care that addresses racial disparities in maternal outcomes, particularly in communities facing maternity care deserts. The resolution does not create new laws but calls for federal, state, and local governments to support initiatives expanding access to Black midwives and removing barriers to their practice. It highlights that Black birthing people face significantly higher maternal mortality rates (50.3 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023) compared to other groups, often due to systemic inequities. The resolution emphasizes the need for policies promoting midwifery care as part of equitable maternal health solutions.
This bill establishes a digital system for TRICARE members to electronically file and track complaints about access to care at military medical facilities. It requires the Defense Department to create a system where beneficiaries can submit complaints online, view their status in real time, and have complaints automatically aggregated quarterly for review. The system mandates annual reports to Congress comparing complaint types (e.g., specialty vs. primary care, pediatric vs. non-pediatric, administrative hurdles) and detailing facility-level actions taken to address issues. The goal is to improve transparency and accountability in military healthcare access.
This bill gives states the option to create coordinated care teams (called "maternity health homes") for pregnant and postpartum women enrolled in Medicaid. It requires states to develop individualized care plans covering medical, behavioral, and social services, with increased federal funding (15% higher for the first four years) to support this model. Eligible women include those who are pregnant or within one year of pregnancy (excluding those with limited pregnancy-only coverage), and participation is voluntary for both women and providers. States must track care quality, costs, and outcomes through data reporting but are not required to adopt the program.
