A new bill seeks to improve maternal health care for expectant mothers. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, (R-FL) introduced the bi-partisan sponsored bill with the Improving Access to Maternal Health for Military and Dependent Moms Act with Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) and U.S. Representatives Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Terri Sewell (D-AL).
According to the bill’s introduction, recent studies have demonstrated low patient satisfaction for obstetric care in military health facilities despite pregnancy and childbirth being the top reasons for inpatient admissions at military treatment facilities. The bill would require the U.S. Department of Defense to provide Congress with a comprehensive study on access to maternal health care within the Military Health Service for service members and their dependents.
“Ensuring the well-being of our military families means addressing the unique challenges mothers face while they, or their spouses, serve in the military,” Rubio said. The Improving Access to Maternal Health for Military and Dependent Moms Act is a crucial step towards understanding and overcoming the obstacles to maternal health care within the Military Health System.”
Since 2004, O’Hern has worked with political campaigns in roles ranging from major projects involving nationwide digital marketing for U.S. Presidential candidates, U.S. Congressmen, state governors, and state representatives. O’Hern’s journalism background includes news reporting and editing for various organizations and news publications in Alabama and Florida since 2002. O’Hern graduated from Samford University in Birmingham, Ala with a degree in journalism and a minor in political science.