NY A08162

Establishes a women veterans coordinator-administered maternity care program to improve capacity of maternity care providers to address unique needs of pregnant and postpartum veterans, particularly regarding mental and behavioral health conditions.

Requires the women veterans coordinator to serve as liaison between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Health, and Office of Mental Health to coordinate veteran maternity care and address reproductive mental health issues.

Directs the women veterans coordinator to develop consultation and referral systems for obstetricians and primary care providers statewide, provide training on identifying mental health conditions in expectant veterans, and raise awareness of the federal Veterans Community Care Program.

Requires the Department of Health to make available information to maternal health care providers on screening pregnant veterans for depression, intimate partner violence, military sexual trauma, PTSD, anxiety, substance abuse, and postpartum depression.

Mandates the women veterans coordinator to convene a stakeholder workgroup to study barriers to maternity care for veterans and collaborate with the maternal mortality review board to identify trends in veteran maternal mortality, with annual reporting to the governor and legislature.