Earlier this month, an important bipartisan piece of legislation was reintroduced in Congress that could transform maternity care access for thousands of servicemembers and their families. The Maternal and Infant Delivery: Wellness, and Integration with Vital Expertise Support (MIDWIVES) for Servicemembers Act, led by Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), with support from Representatives Emily Randall (WA-06), Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), and Jen Kiggans (VA-02), proposes a five-year pilot program to extend midwifery care under TRICARE.
At NACPM, we are proud to stand among the endorsing organizations advocating for this essential and overdue expansion of care.
What the Bill Does
The MIDWIVES for Servicemembers Act would expand TRICARE—the military’s health insurance system—to cover midwifery services provided by all nationally credentialed midwives, including Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) and Certified Midwives (CMs). This means military families would have more options to access high-quality, evidence-based care, including through community birth settings like freestanding birth centers, which are often staffed by CPMs.
If successful, the five-year pilot program could pave the way for permanent TRICARE coverage of midwifery services, improving outcomes and experiences for servicemembers and their families.
Why It Matters
Military families often face unique challenges—frequent relocations, limited provider networks, and disruptions in care. In the words of Ashley Jones, Executive Director of True North Birth Center and a retired military spouse:
“Being restationed—sometimes well into pregnancy—often means starting over and scrambling to find a new provider in areas already facing serious shortages.”
Midwives are uniquely positioned to meet these challenges with care that is personalized, relationship-based, and rooted in community. Research consistently shows that midwifery care results in lower rates of cesarean birth and interventions, increased satisfaction, and better overall outcomes for parents and babies.
As Cassaundra Jah, NACPM’s Executive Director, shared:
“The MIDWIVES for Servicemembers Act directly addresses a critical gap in maternity care for military families by expanding TRICARE to include all credentialed midwives. This bill not only increases access to care, especially in underserved areas, but also affirms the right of military families to choose safe, community-based care.”
A United Front for Change
The bill is backed by a strong coalition of maternal health leaders including NACPM, American Association of Birth Centers (AABC), American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM), Birth Center Equity, the Policy Institute for Community Birth and Midwifery (PICBM), and the National Partnership for Women & Families. These organizations recognize that expanding access to midwifery care is not just good policy—it’s a necessary step toward equity and improved outcomes.
“Certified Professional Midwives and Certified Midwives stand ready to serve military families,” said Mary Lawlor of PICBM. “As military hospitals close maternity units and care deserts grow, midwives and birth centers are vital to filling the gap.”
What Comes Next
If passed, this legislation would mark a transformative shift in how the U.S. supports the reproductive health of military families. It reflects a broader understanding that access to midwifery care is not a luxury—it’s a proven, cost-effective solution to our maternal health crisis.
We urge our members and partners to spread the word and advocate for this critical legislation. Military families deserve options. They deserve continuity. And they deserve access to safe, compassionate care—no matter where they’re stationed.