(a) Establishment
(1) Requirement
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Director of the Defense Health Agency, shall establish a pilot program on blood pressure monitoring for pregnant and postpartum TRICARE beneficiaries in order to increase the rate of early detection of a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy.
(2) Model
The Secretary may model the pilot program under paragraph (1) on a pilot program for blood pressure self-monitoring under the Healthy Start Program of the Health Resources and Services Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services.
(b) Military medical treatment facilities
(1) Number
The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program under subsection (a) at not fewer than two military medical treatment facilities of each of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force.
(2) Selection
In selecting the military medical treatment facilities at which to carry out the pilot program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall—
ensure that the military medical treatment facilities are geographically diverse, including locations in rural and urban areas; and
give priority to military medical treatment facilities that have a large number of obstetric patients or a history of maternal health programs.
(c) Participants
(1) Eligibility
An individual is eligible to participate in the pilot program under subsection (a) if—
the individual—
is enrolled in the TRICARE program;
is pregnant or postpartum; and
receives health care through a military medical treatment facility at which the Secretary is carrying out the pilot program; and
the Secretary determines the individual is at risk (based on evidence and current medical standards and recommendations) of a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy or negative health outcomes as a result of a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy.
(2) Voluntary
The Secretary may not require an individual to participate in the pilot program under subsection (a).
(d) Equipment and information
The Secretary shall provide to an individual participating in the pilot program under subsection (a)—
a blood pressure cuff device that—
is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the digital monitoring of blood pressure;
is validated for use during pregnancy according to the International Organization for Standardization (as determined by the Secretary);
is capable of remote monitoring and data transmission; and
has adjustable or alternative cuff sizes; and
educational materials and instructions on the use of such device from a health care provider of the Department of Defense.
(e) Providers
In carrying out the pilot program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall use the primary care and obstetric care provider of the individual participating in the pilot program, to the extent practicable.
(f) Materials
The Secretary shall develop supporting materials for health care providers who facilitate the pilot program under subsection (a), including the following:
Guidance on how to identify individuals eligible to participate in the pilot program.
Evidence-based educational materials regarding maternal health best practices for such individuals.
(g) Term
The pilot program under subsection (a) shall terminate five years after the date on which the Secretary establishes such pilot program.
(h) Report
Not later than 180 days after the date of the termination of the pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate, and make publicly available on the internet website of the Department of Defense, a report on the pilot program. The report shall include the following elements, disaggregated by the Armed Force, sex, age, race, and ethnicity of individuals who participated in the pilot program:
The number of participants.
The percentage of such participants who used the monitors as prescribed.
A summary of barriers or challenges participants experienced using the monitors and if such barriers or challenges resulted in the monitors being underused.
The percentage of participants who had blood pressure readings of concern.
The percentage of participants described in paragraph (4) who received medical attention based on such readings.
A summary of provider and participant feedback, including percentages of—
providers that found the program influenced patient care; and
participants who found the program was helpful in managing the care of the participant.
Recommendations of the Secretary whether the pilot program should be altered, expanded, or made permanent.