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.