This bill amends Title 18 of the U.S. Code to require the Bureau of Prisons to ensure female prisoners can see an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN). Each federal facility that holds women must employ at least one full-time OB-GYN who is board-certified. Every female prisoner must have an initial visit with that OB-GYN within 14 days of imprisonment. The OB-GYN must provide menstrual care and pain management; contraceptive counseling and access; diagnosis and treatment of gynecological conditions; cancer screenings consistent with clinical guidelines; prenatal care and pregnancy screening; postpartum care and recovery; and postpartum depression screening. The bill requires informed consent, the right to refuse non-emergency care, and clear communication in the prisoner’s preferred language for OB-GYN services. OB-GYN care must use trauma-informed standards for survivors of sexual violence. The Director must set a referral process to other specialists when medically necessary, ensure transportation and security do not delay care, and may not deny care based on cost or staffing. Any required OB-GYN vacancy must be filled within 42 days. The Director must also send Congress an annual report listing which facilities employ full-time OB-GYNs, any vacancies and their duration, counts of OB-GYN visits (including for pregnant prisoners), hours worked by OB-GYNs, childbirths, high-risk pregnancy classifications, and deaths related to pregnancy and newborn deaths.
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The sponsors introduced the bill to require access to OB-GYN care for women in federal prisons and to set standards for services, patient protections, referrals, and reporting.
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