Schumer Secures Provision in Senate National Defense Authorization Bill to Address Maternal Health Care at Fort Drum

Strategic Insights -

United States Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-New York, has secured a provision in the Senate National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026 to address the long-standing shortage of obstetricians and gynecologists (OB/GYNs) at Fort Drum. This shortage has forced soldiers and military families to seek care from local hospitals off-base or drive for hours when local care is unavailable. Schumer's language in the Senate NDAA requires the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Defense Health Agency (DHA) to develop a comprehensive plan to expand OB/GYN care serving Fort Drum and the surrounding Watertown area.

Key Takeaways:

  • Senator Schumer has secured a provision in the Senate NDAA to address the long-standing shortage of OB/GYNs at Fort Drum, which has forced soldiers and military families to seek care from local hospitals off-base or drive for hours when local care is unavailable.
  • The provision directs the DoD and DHA to develop a comprehensive plan to expand OB/GYN care serving Fort Drum and the surrounding Watertown area, as well as to create a plan to study the administrative and cost barriers to expanding OB/GYN care in the Watertown area.
  • Schumer said the shortage of OB/GYNs at Fort Drum is part of a nationwide shortage, with particularly low access in rural areas, due to factors such as low reimbursement, increased threats to OB/GYN safety driven by anti-abortion politics, and recent GOP cuts to Medicaid.
  • Labor and delivery units, especially in rural areas, are currently closing nationwide due to low reimbursement, and with Medicaid paying for more than 40% of births across the country, even more L&D units are at risk.
  • The provision also directs the Secretary of Defense to brief Congress on the plan by December 1 of this year to ensure that there is no further delay in providing reliable, high-quality maternal health care close to home for the Fort Drum community.

Statistics:

  • More than 40% of births across the country are paid for by Medicaid.
  • Labor and delivery units are currently closing nationwide due to low reimbursement, with even more units at risk due to Medicaid paying for more than 40% of births.
  • OB/GYNs have one of the highest attrition rates compared to most medical professions.
  • OB/GYNs are particularly vulnerable to decreased access in rural areas due to factors such as low reimbursement and increased threats to OB/GYN safety driven by anti-abortion politics.

Sources:

  • Schumer, C. (2024). Schumer Secures Provision in Senate National Defense Authorization Bill to Address Fort Drum's Long-Needed Expansion for Maternal Health Care to Support Military Moms & Families on Base - and at Rural... Retrieved from https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-secures-provision-in-senate-national-defense-authorization-bill-to-address-fort-drums-long-needed-expansion-for-maternal-health-care-to-support-military-moms-and-families-on-base_and-at-rural-military-installations-across-the-country