{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.mccaskill.senate.gov/media-center/news-releases/mccaskill-bill-requiring-tricare-to-cover_breastfeeding-services-included-in-defense-bill-", "McCaskill Bill Requiring TRICARE to Cover  Breastfeeding Services Included in Defense Bill", "2014-12-09", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "MO", "Claire McCaskill", "M001170", "www.mccaskill.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "McCaskill Bill Requiring TRICARE to Cover  Breastfeeding Services Included in Defense Bill  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t Senator\u2019s provision to provide members of the military and their families  coverage consistent with private sector is one step closer to becoming law \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, December 9, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON \u2013 This year\u2019s annual defense bill will include a provision by U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill to require TRICARE\u2014health insurance provided to members of the military and their families\u2014to cover breastfeeding equipment, such as breast pumps, along with support and counseling, as required by most private health plans under the Affordable Care Act.\r\n\u201cAs someone who was a single, working mother, I know firsthand the importance of comprehensive, affordable healthcare for new moms,\u201d said McCaskill, a senior member of the Armed Services Committee. \u201cI\u2019m proud we\u2019ll be able to get this commonsense legislation one step closer to the finish line, so that new mothers in the military and military spouses can have access to the same high standard of services we\u2019ve achieved in the civilian sector under the health care law.\u201d\r\nMore than 50 medical, family, and healthcare groups, including the National Women\u2019s Law Center, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Academy of Nursing endorsed McCaskill\u2019s legislation. Full text of their letter can be found HERE. The National Military Family Association has also endorsed the bill.\r\nCurrently, as part of breastfeeding support, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires insurance plans to cover breast pump rental or provide breast pumps for new moms, as well as lactation counseling and support.\r\nWith TRICARE, members of the military and military spouses have been left to pay the full costs out of pocket for these services. TRICARE benefits are not subject to the mandates of the ACA that affect private health insurance plans. As such, when the Health Resources and Services Administration determined that breastfeeding equipment and support should be covered by health insurance companies under the provisions of the ACA, this requirement did not extend to TRICARE.\u00a0\r\nVisit mccaskill.senate.gov/healthcare to read highlights of McCaskill\u2019s fight to improve our nation\u2019s healthcare system.\u00a0\r\n###\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.mccaskill.senate.gov/media-center/news-releases/mccaskill-bill-requiring-tricare-to-cover_breastfeeding-services-included-in-defense-bill-"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.0335510596632957, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}