S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  8162--A
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             October 18, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. CUNNINGHAM, BURDICK -- read once and referred to
   the Committee on Veterans' Affairs -- recommitted to the Committee  on
   Veterans'  Affairs  in  accordance  with  Assembly  Rule  3, sec. 2 --
   reported and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means --  committee
   discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
   to said committee
 
 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.

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD13380-02-4
 A. 8162--A                          2
              

 
   § 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:
   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
 A. 8162--A                          3
 
 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
 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.
 A. 8162--A                          4
 
   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
 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.