NC S455

Department of Health and Human Services shall study health issues affecting women who serve in the military, in consultation with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

Study must examine coordination between veterans and non-veterans health care facilities for maternity care, access to community resources for housing and nutrition, mental health risk factors in prenatal and postpartum periods, and access to childbirth preparation and breastfeeding support.

Study must address reducing maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity with particular focus on racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes.

DHHS must solicit feedback from current and former military mothers and report findings and legislative recommendations to the Senate Health Care Committee and relevant oversight committees by April 1, 2024.

Appropriates $100,000 in nonrecurring funds to DHHS for fiscal year 2023-2024 to conduct the study, effective July 1, 2023.