WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Problem Solvers Caucus announced its endorsement of the TRICARE OB-GYN Treatment and Access without Lags in Care (TOTAL Care) Act, bipartisan legislation to make it easier for women enrolled in TRICARE Prime to access OB-GYN services.

Under current TRICARE Prime rules, beneficiaries must obtain a referral before visiting an OB-GYN, even for routine care like annual exams or prenatal appointments. This requirement often leads to delays and unnecessary administrative burdens for military families who already frequently face gaps in healthcare access due to relocations and deployments. 

The TOTAL Care Act would remove outdated referral requirements for OB-GYN care under TRICARE Prime to ensure timely access to essential reproductive and maternal health services. Specifically, the bill would:

• Allow TRICARE Prime beneficiaries to access OB-GYN care without a referral
• Permit patients to designate an OB-GYN as a primary care provider
• Allow OB-GYNs to directly order related services without extra approvals

The bipartisan legislation was introduced by Representatives Steven Horsford (NV-04), Maria Salazar (FL-27), and Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) and has 12 additional cosponsors, four of whom are Members of the Problem Solvers Caucus. The bill was brought forward for Caucus endorsement by Representatives Horsford and Salazar.

“Ensuring military personnel and their loved ones have the best care available isn’t partisan politics – it’s common sense,” said Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04). “I’m proud to partner with Rep. Salazar on the TOTAL Care Act, and I’m grateful for the Problem Solvers Caucus’ endorsement. Our legislation cuts through red tape to ensure servicemembers have access to the same, high-quality care that every other American has.”

"Our women in uniform risk their lives to defend this country, yet they’re forced to navigate unnecessary bureaucracy just to see an OB-GYN. That’s unacceptable," said Congresswoman María Salazar (FL-27). "The TOTAL Care Act fixes that. I’m proud to help lead this effort, and I thank the Problem Solvers Caucus for endorsing this bipartisan solution. This is not a partisan issue, it’s about basic dignity, respect, and doing right by the servicewomen who fight for us. Together, we’re cutting the red tape and delivering the care they’ve earned."

"OB-GYN care is primary care,” said Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06). “As a veteran, I am proud to stand with my colleagues to introduce this long overdue legislation to ensure our servicemembers and their families receive care in line with their civilian counterparts and without additional referrals or barriers. Servicemembers and their families should not be unfairly burdened simply because they raised their right hands in service. This bipartisan effort eliminates redundancy and delays and ensures access to critical women's healthcare."

“Cutting down red tape to allow service members and their families easier access to critical care is a common sense fix. The Affordable Care Act got rid of the need for referrals for this kind of coverage years ago — leaving out members of our military is legislative oversight. The Problem Solvers Caucus gladly endorses this bill, and we’ll keep working across the aisle to help military families in whatever way we can,” said Problem Solvers Caucus Co-Chair Congressman Tom Suozzi (NY-03).

“The TOTAL Care Act is a smart, bipartisan fix that removes an outdated barrier to care and restores direct OB-GYN access for military families under TRICARE. It reflects exactly the kind of commonsense, patient-first reform I’ve long championed—cutting bureaucracy, improving care delivery, and ensuring our servicemembers and their families get the support they’ve earned,” said Problem Solvers Caucus Co-Chair Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01). “The Problem Solvers are proud to support this effort—and we’ll continue championing bipartisan solutions that ensure our military families receive the care, respect, and commitment their service has earned.”

The full text of the bill can be found here.

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The Problem Solvers Caucus is a group of Members of Congress — split between Republicans and Democrats — committed to advancing common-sense solutions to key issues facing our nation.