John Rice Carter: “I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 315, the Improving Access to Maternity…”

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 315, the Improving Access to Maternity Care Act. Our Nation is facing a critical shortage of maternity healthcare services and professionals. Many Americans in rural or medically underserved areas have little to no access to maternity care services, either due to geographical constraints or a shortage of healthcare providers. This bill would encourage physicians and other healthcare professionals to serve in rural and underserved communities by creating a maternity care designation in the National Health Service Corps. The National Health Service Corps provides up to $50,000 in student loan repayments for healthcare professionals who commit to providing care in health profession shortage areas for a minimum of 2 years. The program has already made great progress in increasing access and reducing provider shortages in dental care, mental health, and primary care. Maternity health professionals can and do already serve in the National Health Service Corps, but they are placed in the same manner as primary care providers. This bill would create a separate designation for maternity care providers, ensuring that maternity health needs are more efficiently addressed in underserved communities that need them the most. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.”