Tessa Quinn
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides maternity care services to veterans, including primary care, exams, tests, ultrasounds, newborn care, lactation support, and mental health care. In 2023, the VA expanded its maternity care coordination services, aiming to improve maternal outcomes for veterans. This expansion includes extended postpartum care coordination for up to one year, screening for social, physical, and mental health concerns, and resources for childbirth education. The VA also offers a Maternity Care Coordinator Telephone Care Program to assist pregnant veterans in navigating healthcare services. However, it is important to note that the VA outsources much of its maternity care to community providers in non-VA facilities, and there may be challenges in accessing consistent and culturally sensitive services like midwifery, independent community-based birth centers, and doula support.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Maternity care services | Fully covered for those eligible. Services are sometimes provided in your community instead of a VA facility |
| Maternity care coordination | Implemented in 2012, requiring all VA Health Care systems to have a designated maternity care coordinator |
| Maternity care coordinator responsibilities | Screening for social, physical, and mental health concerns; answering questions about billing; providing resources for childbirth education; offering lactation consulting during pregnancy and after delivery |
| Maternity care coordinator contact | Available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET, and Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET |
| Maternity care expansion | Includes primary care, exams, tests, ultrasounds, newborn care, lactation support, and more |
| Maternity care funding | $15 million dedicated to the Department of Veterans Affairs' maternity care coordination program through the Protecting Moms Who Served Act |
| Maternal health crisis | The White House Blueprint aims to address the maternal health crisis, with a focus on improving outcomes for veteran mothers and their newborns |
| Pregnancy-related deaths | Preliminary data suggests that the rate of pregnancy-related deaths among veterans using VA benefits is nearly double the national rate |
| Racial inequities | Black pregnant and birthing service members experience racial inequities, with higher rates of severe complications compared to their white peers |
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What You'll Learn
VA maternity care coordinators
The role of VA maternity care coordinators is to guide veterans through their maternity care journey, answering any questions about services, coverage, and billing. They also screen for social, physical, and mental health concerns, provide resources for childbirth education, and offer lactation consulting during pregnancy and after delivery. This comprehensive approach helps improve the physical and mental health of both parent and child, addressing the social determinants of health and mental health risk factors.
To locate a VA maternity care coordinator, veterans can contact their VA provider or local Women Veterans Program Manager. Additionally, the Women Veterans Call Center (WVCC) offers guidance and resources for veteran mothers, with trained women representatives providing information on enrolling in VA healthcare, setting up medical appointments, and understanding eligibility and benefits.
The expansion of VA maternity care coordination is a critical step toward improving maternal outcomes for veteran mothers and addressing the unique challenges faced by this growing cohort of veterans. By offering a wide range of services, including primary care, exams, ultrasounds, and lactation support, the VA is committed to providing comprehensive maternity care for veterans and their families.
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Postpartum care
The VA encourages new mothers to continue visits with their healthcare team or maternity care coordinator to assess their physical and mental wellbeing, including emotional wellness, sexual health, sleep and fatigue, and the physical recovery from birth. The VA also provides mental health support, recognising that pregnancy, childbirth, and caring for a child can be challenging for all parents. Postpartum depression is the most common complication of giving birth, affecting more than half a million American women each year. The VA offers treatment options such as the MomMoodBooster program, which includes six sessions and phone calls from a coach.
The VA's maternity care coordinators also screen for social, physical, and mental health concerns, provide resources for childbirth education, and offer lactation consulting during pregnancy and after delivery. They can help new mothers navigate health care services both inside and outside of the VA system.
In addition to primary care, the VA provides access to mental health care, housing assistance, and resources to address food insecurity. The VA also covers items such as nursing bras, breast/chest pumps, and maternity belts, as well as lactation pads, human milk storage bags, and nipple cream through the VA Pharmacy.
The VA has expanded its maternity care coordination, including extending postpartum care coordination up to one year, to improve outcomes for veteran mothers and their newborns. This expansion is part of the VA's implementation of the White House Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis.
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Pregnancy complications
Women veterans who receive maternity care through the VA often have multiple medical conditions that can increase their risk of pregnancy complications. For instance, military deployment can increase the risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which in turn increases the risk of preterm birth, preeclampsia, and gestational diabetes. In addition, the VA has found that veterans are more likely to experience certain complications, such as dangerous infections, kidney failure, aneurysms, or blood loss.
Pregnancy-related deaths among veterans using VA benefits are nearly double the national rate. Black veterans have the highest rates of severe complications, with 2.7% of Black birthing service members experiencing severe complications compared to 1.7% of white service members. Black women are two to three times more likely to die during pregnancy and childbirth than their white peers.
The VA offers a full range of services to support women veterans' reproductive goals, including providing Maternity Care Coordinators (MCC) to help them navigate health care services inside and outside of the VA throughout pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum. MCCs can assist with tracking and coordinating care, acting as a liaison between the patient and VA and community providers, and providing resources for childbirth education and lactation consulting.
The VA has included pregnancy-related care in its medical benefits package since 1996, and approximately 4,000 veterans use this benefit annually. The VA pays for veterans to see providers in their communities for labor and delivery care and prenatal care. However, this can leave veterans in a precarious position, navigating multiple doctors, clinics, and hospitals.
To improve maternal outcomes for veterans, the VA has expanded its maternity care coordination and implemented the White House Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis. The VA now provides veterans with a full range of maternity care services, including primary care, exams, tests, ultrasounds, newborn care, and lactation support. The VA also offers mental health care, housing assistance, and resources to address food insecurity.
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Mental health support
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has recognised the need for mental health support for pregnant veterans, particularly those with chronic mental health issues. In 2012, the VA introduced a maternity care coordination program, and in 2021, the Protecting Moms Who Served Act dedicated $15 million towards this program. The VA also offers a Maternity Care Coordinator Telephone Care Program, which provides seven structured phone calls spanning from the initiation of pregnancy care through to six weeks postpartum.
Pregnant women veterans have a high need for coordination services, as they are more likely to experience certain complications and have a high incidence of pregnancy complications. They also have a substantial burden of pre-pregnancy chronic physical and mental health problems. The VA's maternity care coordinators screen for social, physical, and mental health concerns and provide resources for childbirth education. They also offer lactation consulting during pregnancy and after delivery.
The VA has also taken steps to help pregnant and postpartum veterans navigate the challenges of receiving care from multiple doctors, clinics, and hospitals. However, community providers are often unaware of the history and risks that military personnel and veterans carry, such as sexual trauma, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. This can make pregnancy and pregnancy-related care more difficult for patients.
To address these issues, the VA has implemented a policy requiring all VA Health Care systems to have a designated maternity care coordinator. They have also expanded maternity care coordination to improve maternal outcomes for veterans, providing the full range of maternity care services throughout pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum. This includes primary care, exams, tests, ultrasounds, newborn care, lactation support, and mental health care.
Veterans can access mental health support by contacting their local VA Medical Center or local women's health contact, who can assist in coordinating all the necessary services. They can also connect with the Women Veterans Call Center or use the VA's chatbot to get information about benefits and services. Additionally, all former service members and veterans are eligible for one year of free mental health care services following discharge, regardless of discharge status.
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Maternity care for Black veterans
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides maternity care services to veterans. These services include primary care, exams, tests, ultrasounds, newborn care, lactation support, and more. Women veterans are the fastest-growing cohort of veterans who use VA services, with approximately 600,000 women veterans currently receiving healthcare, half of whom are of childbearing age.
Pregnancies among women veterans using VA care have increased by more than 80% since 2014, and the VA has expanded its maternity care coordination to meet this growing demand. This expansion includes the hiring of maternity care coordinators who guide veterans through their care options and help reduce complications during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. The VA also offers extended postpartum care coordination for up to one year to improve the physical and mental health of both parent and child.
Black women, both veterans and non-veterans, are at a higher risk of pregnancy-related deaths compared to white women, due to factors such as chronic health conditions, lack of access to care, and racial bias. To address this disparity, the VA has implemented initiatives to improve maternal health outcomes for Black veterans. This includes training healthcare professionals to be culturally competent and fostering an environment where Black mothers feel respected and understood.
The VA also provides resources to address social and physical concerns that may impact pregnancy, such as housing and food security. Additionally, the VA offers financial support through programs like the Bipartisan Maternal Health for Veterans Act, which reauthorizes funding from the Protecting Moms Who Served Act, ensuring that the VA can continue to meet the demand for maternity care services and improve health outcomes for veterans from all demographic groups.
To find a VA Maternity Care Coordinator, Black women veterans can contact their VA provider or local Women Veterans Program Manager. These coordinators can help address any concerns and ensure a seamless maternity care experience.
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Frequently asked questions
The VA provides veterans with a full range of maternity care services throughout pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum, including primary care, exams, tests, ultrasounds, newborn care, lactation support, and more.
To access maternity services at a VA hospital, you can contact your local VA Medical Center or local women's health contact. You can also find a VA Maternity Care Coordinator near you by contacting your VA provider or local Women Veterans Program Manager.
Even if you are not eligible for VA health care, you may still be able to access certain health care services, such as care related to military sexual trauma (MST). Additionally, all former service members and veterans are eligible for one year of free mental health care services following discharge, regardless of discharge status.
Yes, the Protecting Moms Who Served Act, signed into law on November 30, 2021, dedicates $15 million toward the Department of Veterans Affairs' maternity care coordination program. This law also calls for a comprehensive study on maternal mortality and severe complications among veterans.
One challenge is that the VA outsources much of its maternity care, leading to a lack of specialized knowledge about the unique needs of military personnel and veterans. There are also concerns about racial inequities in maternity care, as Black women veterans face higher risks of severe complications and maternal mortality compared to their white peers.
