Horsford, Houlahan, Salazar Introduce Bipartisan Bill Eliminating Barriers to Healthcare for Servicemembers, Military Families
TOTAL Care Act Provides Military Community Parity with Affordable Care Act Services
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representatives Steven Horsford (NV-04) and Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), and Maria Salazar (FL-27) today introduced the bipartisan TRICARE OB-GYN Treatment and Access without Lags in Care Act (TOTAL Care Act), which provides servicemembers and their families obstetric and gynecologic (OB-GYN) care without requiring burdensome referrals.
The legislation comes after referral requirements have dramatically increased over the past two decades. While the original intent was to ensure patients receive proper care, in practice the burden of referrals far outweighs the need. The Affordable Care Act eliminated referral requirements for OB-GYN care, and the TOTAL Care Act ensures parity for servicemembers and military-connected families.
“Military personnel, and their loved ones serving alongside them, deserve the best care we can provide – not red tape for fundamental medical services,” Rep. Horsford said. “The TOTAL Care Act ensures servicemembers and their families have the same access that every other American now has under the Affordable Care Act. This is not a partisan issue – it’s something that the heroes serving at Nellis and Creech Airforce Bases and Hawthorne Army Depot in my Congressional District deserve, along with every other person in uniform across the United States.”
“As a veteran, I’m proud to co-sponsor this bill to ensure servicemembers and their families receive care without unnecessary barriers,” Rep. Houlahan said. “With the increase in women joining the military, they shouldn’t face added burdens for their service. This bipartisan effort makes clear our servicemembers' health matters, and their care is essential to our national security. Quality healthcare builds stronger forces and keeps us mission-ready.”
The TOTAL Care Act is co-sponsored by Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Michael Turner (OH-10), and Hank Johnson (GA-04).