U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik representing New York's 21st Congressional District | Official U.S. House headshot
U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik representing New York's 21st Congressional District | Official U.S. House headshot
Saratoga, N.Y. - Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (NY-21) has called on the Defense Health Agency (DHA) to address severe staffing shortages at the obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN) clinic at Fort Drum. The shortage is forcing expectant mothers to seek care off base.
Stefanik, an advocate for maternal health care for service members and their families, has led initiatives such as the Improving Access to Maternal Health for Military and Dependent Moms Act and co-led the Military Moms Act.
In her letter to DHA Director Lieutenant General Telita Crosland, Stefanik stated, "Upstate New York is classified as a Health Provider Shortage Area (HPSA), facing severe recruitment challenges that often span two to three years. Compounding this issue, the military OB/GYN service line has suffered a drastic 78% reduction in providers due to ETS, resignations, and retirements, with full replenishment potentially taking four to five years. This has created a capability gap at Fort Drum that threatens the safe delivery of obstetrical services for both Fort Drum families and the surrounding community."
She continued by highlighting the urgency of the situation: "The lack of available military inventory for physicians severely restricts our ability to fill these essential positions. This shortage has forced Fort Drum to refer obstetrical patients to external network partners for second-half pregnancy and delivery care, disrupting continuity and straining already overwhelmed healthcare systems. Since April 8, Fort Drum has been forced to refer expectant mothers to off-post hospitals for third-trimester care.”
Stefanik also addressed a critical request that was denied: “Moreover, a critical request for OB/GYN physician support through a Contract Service Agreement with Humana Military Health was inexplicably denied by DHA. With no alternative staffing options, the only remaining choice was to direct patients to community hospitals. And now, our community hospitals are overwhelmed with the increase in patients, a system already facing its own physician shortages.”
This letter follows an initial request sent to DHA regarding staffing shortages and a denied contract service agreement intended to address these issues at Fort Drum.
Read the full letter [here](https://stefanik.house.gov/2024/8/stefanik-demands-action-from-defense-health-agency-over-staffing-shortages-at-fort-drum-maternal-health-clinic).
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