Sponsors (35)
The bill uses federal guidance, standardized definitions, modest funding, training, and a GAO study to improve postpartum pelvic health awareness and provider capacity, but most changes are non‑binding, funding is limited, and meaningful access gains depend on state adoption and local provider availability.
Low-income postpartum women (Medicaid/CHIP) and their families gain clearer, standardized pathways to pelvic floor exams and pelvic health physical therapy through federal guidance and outreach, increasing the likelihood they learn how to get appropriate care.
Health professionals and health systems will receive training and standardized definitions for pelvic floor exams and pelvic health PT, likely improving diagnosis, referral consistency, and treatment quality.
A dedicated federal program (authorized at $2M/year FY2026–2030) funds outreach and provider training to support awareness and workforce capacity for postpartum pelvic health services.
Because the guidance is non‑binding, many Medicaid and CHIP programs may not change coverage or payment practices, so large numbers of low-income postpartum women might see no immediate expansion in services.
Education and training alone may not translate into actual access where local provider availability or insurance coverage is limited, leaving some postpartum women without needed pelvic health PT despite increased awareness.
Implementing new coding, recommended payment models, or expanded services could raise Medicaid/CHIP program costs and pressure state budgets, potentially forcing tradeoffs with other services or requiring increased state spending.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Directs HHS to issue Medicaid/CHIP guidance on covering pelvic floor exams and pelvic health physical therapy, requires a GAO study, and funds a CDC/HRSA education program.
Introduced June 23, 2025 by Donald J. Bacon · Last progress June 23, 2025
Requires the HHS Secretary to issue guidance within one year to state Medicaid and CHIP programs on coverage of pelvic floor examinations and pelvic health physical therapy provided during pregnancy or the postpartum period, and directs the GAO to report to Congress within one year on gaps in Medicaid coverage for postpartum services for people who had Medicaid during pregnancy. Creates a new CDC/HRSA program to educate and train health professionals and to educate postpartum women about pelvic floor exams and pelvic health physical therapy, and authorizes $2 million per year for FY2026–2030 to carry out that program. The bill defines the postpartum period as the longer of lactation or six months after the pregnancy ends, lists covered pelvic health services, specifies clinical definitions for pelvic floor examinations and pelvic health physical therapy, and asks HHS to recommend payment, financing, screening/referral flexibilities, and diagnostic codes to identify pelvic floor dysfunction in Medicaid and CHIP claims and coverage policies.