S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
9259
I N S E N A T E
May 8, 2024
___________
Introduced by Sen. SCARCELLA-SPANTON -- read twice and ordered printed,
and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Home-
land Security and Military Affairs
AN ACT to amend the veterans' services law and the public health law, in
relation to establishing a maternity care coordination program for
pregnant and postpartum veterans
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Paragraphs (g) and (h) of subdivision 3 of section 19 of
the veterans' services law are amended and two new paragraphs (i) and
(j) are added to read as follows:
(g) inclusion of the contributions women veterans have made on behalf
of the United States and this state on the department's official
website; [and]
(h) preparation of reports on topics including, but not limited to,
the demographics of women veterans, the number of women veterans listed
by county, and the unique needs of the women veterans population, to the
extent such information is available, to the commissioner on the status
of women veterans within New York state[.];
(I) DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A MATERNITY CARE PROGRAM, IN
CONSULTATION WITH THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH, TO IMPROVE THE
CAPACITY OF MATERNITY CARE PROVIDERS TO ADDRESS THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF
PREGNANT AND POSTPARTUM VETERANS, PARTICULARLY REGARDING MENTAL AND
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONDITIONS; AND
(J) CONSPICUOUSLY POSTING ON THE DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE A LINK TO THE
FEDERAL WOMEN VETERANS CALL CENTER NUMBER 1-855-VA-WOMEN.
§ 2. The veterans' services law is amended by adding a new section
29-b to read as follows:
§ 29-B. VETERAN MATERNITY CARE. THE WOMEN VETERANS COORDINATOR SHALL
ADMINISTER A VETERAN MATERNITY CARE PROGRAM. THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBIL-
ITIES OF THE WOMEN VETERANS COORDINATOR WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PROGRAM
SHALL BE:
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13380-03-4
S. 9259 2
1. SERVING AS A LIAISON BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETER-
ANS AFFAIRS (VA) INCLUDING VA MATERNITY CARE COORDINATORS LOCATED IN THE
STATE, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH TO
FACILITATE BETTER COORDINATION OF VETERAN MATERNITY CARE IN THE STATE
AND COOPERATION IN ADDRESSING ISSUES RELATED TO VETERAN REPRODUCTIVE
MENTAL HEALTH CARE;
2. PROVIDING INFORMATION TO MATERNITY CARE PROVIDERS AND EXPECTANT
VETERANS REGARDING IDENTIFYING AND TREATING COMMON MENTAL AND PHYSICAL
CONDITIONS EXPERIENCED BY VETERANS THAT CAN HEIGHTEN THE RISK OF PREG-
NANCY COMPLICATIONS;
3. PROVIDING GUIDANCE AND REFERRAL INFORMATION ON MATERNITY CARE AND
BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO VETERANS INCLUDING THE VA'S MATERNITY CARE COORDI-
NATION PROGRAM AT ALL EVENTS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, SEMINARS
REQUIRED UNDER SUBDIVISION SIX OF SECTION FOUR OF THIS ARTICLE;
4. DEVELOPING A SYSTEM FOR RAPID CONSULTATION AND REFERRAL LINKAGE
SERVICES FOR OBSTETRICIANS AND PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS STATEWIDE WHO
PROVIDE CARE FOR EXPECTANT VETERANS WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES
THAT MAY IMPACT A VETERAN'S MATERNAL HEALTH;
5. PROVIDING GUIDANCE ON THE IDENTIFICATION OF SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF
MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS IN EXPECTANT VETERANS TO MATERNITY CARE PROVID-
ERS;
6. RAISING AWARENESS AMONG MATERNITY CARE PROVIDERS OF THE FEDERAL
VETERANS COMMUNITY CARE PROGRAM ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO 38 U.S.C § 1703
AND CONSIDERING WAYS TO ENCOURAGE AND INCENTIVIZE PARTICIPATION IN SUCH
PROGRAM. THE COORDINATOR SHALL MAKE INFORMATION RELEVANT TO SUCH PROVID-
ERS AVAILABLE ON THE DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
LINKS TO THE ANY CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION MATERIAL OR COURSES FOR
NON-DEPARTMENT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS PROVIDED ON THE INTERNET WEBSITE OF
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PURSUANT TO SECTION 123 OF THE
VA MAINTAINING INTERNAL SYSTEMS AND STRENGTHENING INTEGRATED OUTSIDE
NETWORKS ACT OF 2018 (P.L.115-182);
7. CONVENING AS NECESSARY, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COMMISSIONERS OF
HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH, A WORKGROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO, HOSPITALS, FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIALS,
OBSTETRICIANS, MIDWIVES, PEDIATRICIANS, VETERANS AND VETERANS ADVOCATES
TO STUDY AND EVALUATE:
(A) WAYS TO IMPROVE THE CAPACITY OF MATERNITY HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS TO
DELIVER HIGH-QUALITY, TIMELY AND VETERAN-CENTERED CARE;
(B) BARRIERS AND CHALLENGES IN IDENTIFYING AND TREATING EXPECTANT
VETERANS WITH REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CONDITIONS AND OTHER SERVICE-CONNECTED
DISABILITIES THAT MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF PREGNANCY AND POSTPARTUM
COMPLICATIONS; AND
(C) GAPS IN THE SERVICES AND CARE PROVIDED TO PREGNANT VETERANS BY THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE DESIRABILITY, FEASIBILITY AND EFFICACY OF
SUPPORT BY THE STATE FOR SUCH SERVICES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
HOME DELIVERIES, SERVICES BY DOULAS, AND DELIVERIES BY DIRECT-ENTRY
MIDWIVES;
8. ESTABLISHING STANDARD PROTOCOLS AND TRAINING FOR HEALTH CARE
PROVIDERS TREATING PREGNANT VETERANS AND DEFINING RESPONSIBILITIES FOR
HOW LOCAL SUICIDE PREVENTION COORDINATORS, MATERNITY CARE COORDINATORS
AND WOMEN'S HEALTH CLINICAL LEADERS SHOULD WORK TOGETHER TO SUPPORT
PREGNANT VETERANS WITH ELEVATED RISK FACTORS FOR SUICIDE; AND
9. COLLABORATING WITH THE MATERNAL MORTALITY REVIEW BOARD ESTABLISHED
PURSUANT TO SECTION TWENTY-FIVE HUNDRED NINE OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW TO
IDENTIFY TRENDS IN THE DEMOGRAPHICS AND CAUSES OF MATERNAL MORTALITY
S. 9259 3
AMONG VETERANS. THE FINDINGS OF SUCH COLLABORATION SHALL BE REPORTED TO
THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE AT LEAST ANNUALLY.
§ 3. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 2509-d
to read as follows:
§ 2509-D. VETERANS REPRODUCTIVE MENTAL HEALTH CARE. 1. AS USED IN THIS
SECTION:
(A) "MATERNAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDER" MEANS A PHYSICIAN, MIDWIFE, NURSE
PRACTITIONER, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT, OR OTHER HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER
ACTING WITHIN THEIR LAWFUL SCOPE OF PRACTICE, ATTENDING A PREGNANT
VETERAN OR A VETERAN UP TO ONE YEAR AFTER CHILDBIRTH, INCLUDING A PRAC-
TITIONER ATTENDING THE VETERAN'S CHILD UP TO ONE YEAR AFTER CHILDBIRTH.
(B) "WOMEN VETERANS COORDINATOR" SHALL MEAN THE WOMEN VETERANS COORDI-
NATOR APPOINTED PURSUANT TO SECTION NINETEEN OF THE VETERANS' SERVICES
LAW.
(C) "VETERAN" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN
SECTION ONE OF THE VETERANS' SERVICES LAW AND SHALL ALSO INCLUDE A
VETERAN WHO HAS A QUALIFYING CONDITION, AS DEFINED IN SECTION ONE OF THE
VETERANS' SERVICES LAW, AND HAS RECEIVED A DISCHARGE OTHER THAN BAD
CONDUCT OR DISHONORABLE FROM SUCH SERVICE, OR IS A DISCHARGED LGBT
VETERAN, AS DEFINED IN SECTION ONE OF THE VETERANS' SERVICES LAW, AND
HAS RECEIVED A DISCHARGE OTHER THAN BAD CONDUCT OR DISHONORABLE FROM
SUCH SERVICE.
2. (A) THE COMMISSIONER, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF
MENTAL HEALTH AND THE WOMEN VETERANS COORDINATOR, SHALL MAKE AVAILABLE
TO MATERNAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS INFORMATION ON VETERANS REPRODUCTIVE
MENTAL HEALTH CARE. THE INFORMATION SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED
TO:
(I) THE IMPORTANCE OF IDENTIFYING WHETHER A PATIENT HAS SERVED IN THE
MILITARY IN PROVIDING ADEQUATE MATERNAL HEALTH CARE TO VETERANS;
(II) ENSURING THAT ALL PREGNANT VETERAN PATIENTS ARE APPROPRIATELY
SCREENED FOR DEPRESSION, INTIMATE PARTNER/DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, MILITARY
SEXUAL TRAUMA, POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, ANXIETY, SUBSTANCE ABUSE,
AND POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION;
(III) A SUMMARY OF THE CURRENT EVIDENCE-BASED AND PROFESSIONAL GUIDE-
LINES FOR THE SCREENING OF CONDITIONS LISTED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF
THIS PARAGRAPH;
(IV) VALIDATED, EVIDENCE-BASED TOOLS FOR SCREENING THE CONDITIONS
LISTED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH;
(VI) INFORMATION ABOUT FOLLOW-UP SUPPORT FOR PATIENTS WHO MAY REQUIRE
FURTHER EVALUATION, REFERRAL, OR TREATMENT INCLUDING, WHEN AVAILABLE,
INFORMATION ABOUT SPECIFIC COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND ENTITIES LICENSED BY
THE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH; AND
(VII) INFORMATION ON ENGAGING SUPPORT FOR THE VETERAN, WHICH MAY
INCLUDE COMMUNICATING WITH THE OTHER PARENT OF THE CHILD AND OTHER FAMI-
LY MEMBERS, AS APPROPRIATE AND CONSISTENT WITH PATIENT CONFIDENTIALITY.
(B) THE INFORMATION ON VETERANS REPRODUCTIVE MENTAL HEALTH CARE SHALL
BE POSTED ON THE DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL, IN
COLLABORATION WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF MENTAL HEALTH AND THE WOMEN
VETERANS COORDINATOR, UPDATE AND REVIEW THE INFORMATION ON VETERANS
REPRODUCTIVE MENTAL HEALTH, AS NECESSARY.
3. THE COMMISSIONER, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF MENTAL
HEALTH AND THE WOMEN VETERANS COORDINATOR, SHALL: (A) INFORM PROVIDERS
OF THE NEED TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT VETERANS REPRODUCTIVE MENTAL HEALTH
ISSUES; AND (B) PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE DEPARTMENT AND THE OFFICE OF
MENTAL HEALTH'S WEBSITES REGARDING HOW TO LOCATE AVAILABLE PROVIDERS WHO
TREAT OR PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR VETERANS REPRODUCTIVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
S. 9259 4
INCLUDING MATERNAL DEPRESSION INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, MENTAL
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, OTHER LICENSED PROFESSIONALS, PEER SUPPORT, NOT-
FOR-PROFIT CORPORATIONS AND OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES.
4. THE COMMISSIONER, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE WOMEN VETERANS COORDINA-
TOR, SHALL MAKE ANY REGULATIONS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THIS SECTION.
§ 4. Subdivisions (g) and (h) of section 2522 of the public health
law, subdivision (g) as amended and subdivision (h) as added by section
19 of part D of chapter 56 of the laws of 2012, are amended and a new
subdivision (i) is added to read as follows:
(g) identification of regional perinatal health care system barriers
and limitations that lead to poor perinatal outcomes and development of
strategies to address such barriers and limitations; [and]
(h) coordination of service delivery by community-based organizations
among health care providers and health plans using health information
technology and uniform screening criteria for perinatal risk[.]; AND
(I) PROMOTION OF TRAINING AND CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION OPPORTU-
NITIES IN MILITARY CULTURAL COMPETENCY FOR PROVIDERS OF PRENATAL CARE
TO VETERANS. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SUBDIVISION, THE TERM "VETERAN" SHALL
HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN SECTION ONE OF THE
VETERANS' SERVICES LAW AND SHALL ALSO INCLUDE A VETERAN WHO HAS A QUALI-
FYING CONDITION, AS DEFINED IN SECTION ONE OF THE VETERANS' SERVICES
LAW, AND HAS RECEIVED A DISCHARGE OTHER THAN BAD CONDUCT OR DISHONORABLE
FROM SUCH SERVICE, OR IS A DISCHARGED LGBT VETERAN, AS DEFINED IN
SECTION ONE OF THE VETERANS' SERVICES LAW, AND HAS RECEIVED A DISCHARGE
OTHER THAN BAD CONDUCT OR DISHONORABLE FROM SUCH SERVICE.
§ 5. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
have become a law.