Act Now! Congress’ 4th COVID Relief Bill – Urge Legislators to Support Ob-Gyns and Their Patients
Advocacy
ACOG Advocacy and COVID-19
Share the Facts about COVID-19 in Pregnancy
Our social media tool kit makes it easy for you to share the facts about COVID-19 in pregnancy and the COVID-19 vaccines.
Infographic: COVID-19 Response
Infographic
We've been working to ensure that front line workers and their patients and practices are able to weather the COVID-19 pandemic.
Learn more in our infographic.
GoSupport Our Front Line Physicians
We know that this time presents big challenges to you as physicians and health care professionals, and we are taking policy action to equip you in protecting yourselves, your families, and your patients.
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We are advocating for congressional and regulatory action to increase access to PPE for obstetrician–gynecologists, particularly in labor and delivery units. We are working to address the PPE shortage through conversations with the White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator, the Surgeon General, colleagues at the Food and Drug Administration, and others.
Key Resources
- Article: ACOG Urges Action on Testing and PPE for Labor and Delivery (April 2020)
- Release: ACOG is Working to Protect You (March 2020)
Additional Items
- Letter: ACOG to Congress: Prioritize the Health and Safety of Pregnant Patients with Suspected or Confirmed
COVID-19 Infection (June 2020) - Article: ACOG to Congress: Prioritize Women’s Health in Future COVID-19 Legislation (May 2020)
- Article: ACOG Briefs White House Coronavirus Task Force Members on Needs of Ob–Gyns and Their Patients (May 2020)
- Letter: ACOG to House and Senate: COVID 4 Priorities (May 2020)
- Position Statement: Resumption of Comprehensive Women’s Health Care Policies and Processes (May 2020)
- Statement: Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS) Statement on Personal Protective Equipment (April 2020)
- Letter: Coalition to Administration Regarding PPE Shortage (April 2020)
- Article: ACOG Advocacy Targets Gaps in Care, Financial Relief, PPE, and Prioritizing Testing to LD (April 2020)
- Statement: Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS) Statement on Personal Protective Equipment (April 2020)
- Letter: Coalition to House and Senate on COVID-19, Surgical Coalition Considerations (March 2020)
- Letter: Coalition to House and Senate on COVID-19 from Physician Community (March 2020)
- Letter: Frontline Physicians Recommend Further Actions to Address COVID-19 (March 2020)
- Letter: ACOG, SMFM Clarify CDC's Recommendations on Use of PPE (March 2020)
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Testing for COVID is an essential part of the care you provide, especially in labor and delivery settings. Like emergency department and intensive care units, labor and delivery units should be considered a high-risk area in need of rapid response diagnostic testing. We are advocating every day for this access—with Congress, the states, the Administration, and private industry.
Key Resources
- Position Statement: Resumption of Comprehensive Women’s Health Care Policies and Processes (May 2020)
- Article: ACOG Urges Action on Testing and PPE for Labor and Delivery (April 2020)
Additional Items
- Letter: Letter to White House Coronavirus Task Force: Recent Change to Testing Guidelines (September 2020)
- Letter: Letter to Congress on COVID-19 and Equitable Maternal Health (June 2020)
- Article: ACOG to Congress: Prioritize Women’s Health in Future COVID-19 Legislation (May 2020)
- Article: ACOG Briefs White House Coronavirus Task Force Members on Needs of Ob-Gyns and Their Patients (May 2020)
- Letter: ACOG to House and Senate: COVID 4 Priorities (May 2020)
- Article: ACOG Briefs Congress, Continues to Speak with White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator (April 2020)
- Joint Statement: Public Health, Medical Associations Call on Federal Authorities, State and Local Governments to Prioritize Safety in COVID-19 Policies (April 2020)
- Article: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act: What You Need To Know (March 2020)
- Letter: Coalition to Senate and House Leaders on COVID-19 and H.R. 6201 (March 2020)
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ACOG is gaining significant ground in the push for broad immunity protections at the state and federal level. Not only for volunteer physicians or those directly treating COVID-positive patients, but all physicians furnishing care to patients during the COVID-19 emergency. We are working with state leaders across the country to protect physicians who are shifting their practices to telemedicine, to provide future liability protection for physicians complying with directives to suspend or restrict non-elective surgery, and to pursue premium relief.
Key Resources
- Advocacy Brief: Liability Protections and Premium Relief for Physicians (April 2020)
Additional Items
- Letter: Letter to Congress on COVID-19 Liability Protections (June 2020)
- Letter: ACOG to House and Senate: COVID 4 Priorities (May 2020)
- Article: ACOG to Congress: Prioritize Women’s Health in Future COVID-19 Legislation (May 2020)
- Letter: Coalition to Congressional Leadership on Phase 4 Coronavirus Relief Package (April 2020)
- Article: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act: What You Need To Know (March 2020)
- Letter: Coalition to House and Senate on COVID-19, Surgical Coalition Considerations (March 2020)
- Letter: ACOG to House and Senate on COVID-19 Priorities (March 2020)
Invest in Our Health Workforce and Infrastructure
We know this crisis is imposing significant strain on our members, so supporting you in this area is a high priority.
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ACOG is urging the Department of Health and Human Services to quickly send relief funds to obstetrician–gynecologists who have not been able to benefit from financial relief programs to date. As more funds are allocated for financial relief, we will continue these discussions so that women’s health practices are prioritized. The CARES Act included financial assistance for small and medium sized practices via the Paycheck Protection Program, Emergency Economic Injury Disaster Loan Grants, Main Street Lending Program, and direct financial assistance from HHS. We are also engaged in outreach to the Small Business Administration and are encouraging them to ensure practices of all sizes can take advantage of financial assistance.
Key Resources
- Article: Financial Support for Physicians and Practices During the COVID-19 Pandemic (May 2020)
- Article: FAQs for Practices: Financial Relief Provisions in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economics Security (CARES) Act (April 2020)
- Article: Step-by-Step Guide: How Ob–gyn Practices Can Access HHS Federal Relief Funds (April 2020)
Additional Items
- Statement: ACOG Statement on Federal Relief for Medicaid Providers
- Article: ACOG Urges Health Plans to Improve Telehealth Coverage and Provide Financial Support to Obstetrician-Gynecologists (June 2020)
- Letter: ACOG to the Fed Regarding Loans for Physician Practices (May 2020)
- Article: ACOG Briefs White House Coronavirus Task Force Members on Needs of Ob-Gyns and Their Patients (May 2020)
- Article: ACOG Calls on Department of Health and Human Services to Send Federal Relief Funds to All Obstetrician–Gynecologists (May 2020)
- Article: ACOG to Congress: Prioritize Women’s Health in Future COVID-19 Legislation (May 2020)
- Letter: ACOG to House and Senate: COVID 4 Priorities (May 2020)
- Letter: Coalition to HHS Urging Health Care Worker Financial Relief (April 2020)
- Letter: Coalition to Small Business Administration Regarding Physician Practices (April 2020)
- Letter: Partnership for Medicaid to House and Senate on COVID-19 and Medicaid (April 2020)
- Letter: Coalition to Congressional Leadership on Phase 4 Coronavirus Relief Package (April 2020)
- Letter: ACOG Urges HHS to Immediately Send Relief Funds to Ob–Gyns (April 2020)
- Article: ACOG Briefs Congress, Continues to Speak with White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator (April 2020)
- Letter: ACOG Urges Congress to Support Physician Practices (April 2020)
- Letter: Financial Relief for Obstetrician–Gynecologists, Pediatricians, and Family Physicians (April 2020)
- Letter: ACOG Recommendations for Dispersing Relief Funds to Obstetrician–Gynecologists (April 2020)
- Article: Frontline Physicians Recommend Further Actions to Address COVID-19 (March 2020)
- Article: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act: What You Need To Know (March 2020)
- Letter: Coalition: to House and Senate on COVID-19 and Medical Association Meetings (March 2020)
- Letter: Coalition to House and Senate on COVID-19, Surgical Coalition Considerations (March 2020)
- Letter: ACOG to House and Senate on COVID-19 Priorities (March 2020)
- Letter: Coalition to House and Senate Supporting Non-Profits as Small Businesses Eligible for Relief (March 2020)
- Letter: ACOG and SMFM to Department of Labor on FMLA (March 2020)
- Letter: Coalition to House and Senate on COVID-19 from Physician Community (March 2020)
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ACOG is advocating for coverage and reimbursement of telehealth, including phone calls, at the same rates as face-to-face visits. We are working with CMS, state Medicaid programs, and private payers to expand access to remote patient monitoring for pregnant and postpartum women by making blood pressure cuffs, scales, and other at-home equipment available by prescription. Additionally, with an eye to the long-term, we are advocating to sustain the progress we have made with telehealth coverage and reimbursement after the pandemic has ended.
Key Resources
- Position Statement: Resumption of Comprehensive Women’s Health Care Policies and Processes (May 2020)
- Article: Managing Patients Remotely: Billing for Digital and Telehealth Services (April 2020)
- Article: COVID-19 FAQs for Obstetrician-Gynecologists, Telehealth (April 2020)
Additional Items
- Letter: ACOG Urges Payers to Make Expanded COVID-19 Telehealth Policies Permanent (June 2020)
- Advocacy Brief: Telehealth and Remote Patient Monitoring for Pregnant and Postpartum Women (June 2020)
- Letter: Preserving Access to Obstetric and Gynecologic Care in Medicaid Managed Care During COVID-19 (June 2020)
- Letter: Maintaining Telehealth Coverage Improvements Made During the COVID-19 Pandemic (June 2020)
- Article: ACOG Urges Health Plans to Improve Telehealth Coverage and Provide Financial Support to Obstetrician-Gynecologists (June 2020)
- Advocacy Brief: ACOG COVID-19 State Advocacy Brief: Telehealth and Remote Patient Monitoring for Pregnant and Postpartum Women (May 2020)
- Article: ACOG to Congress: Prioritize Women’s Health in Future COVID-19 Legislation (May 2020)
- Letter: ACOG to House and Senate: COVID 4 Priorities (May 2020)
- Article: Financial Support for Physicians and Practices During the COVID-19 Pandemic (May 2020)
- Letter: Coalition to CMS on Payment Concerns Regarding Telephone Calls (April 2020)
- Letter: Coalition to Congressional Leadership on Phase 4 Coronavirus Relief Package (April 2020)
- Advocacy Brief: Liability Protections and Premium Relief for Physicians (April 2020)
- Article: Frontline Physicians Recommend Further Actions to Address COVID-19 (March 2020)
- Article: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act: What You Need To Know (March 2020)
- Letter: ACOG to CMS on COVID-19 and Telehealth (March 2020)
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In an important step for our residents, the CARES Act included delayed payment and interest accrual for federal student loan borrowers. Next, ACOG will advocate for loan forgiveness and financial support for obstetrics and gynecology residents.
- Article: ACOG to Congress: Prioritize Women’s Health in Future COVID-19 Legislation (May 2020)
- Letter: ACOG to House and Senate: COVID 4 Priorities (May 2020)
- Article: America's Frontline Physicians Call for Immigration Protections for International Medical Graduate Physicians (IMGs) During COVID-19 Pandemic (May 2020)
- Article: Financial Support for Physicians and Practices During the COVID-19 Pandemic (May 2020)
- Letter: Coalition to Congressional Leadership on Phase 4 Coronavirus Relief Package (April 2020)
Protect Access to Safe, Quality Care
As we protect access to care, we must mitigate existing gaps and barriers to care that this pandemic will exacerbate.
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ACOG is working to increase reimbursement for Medicaid services to Medicare levels. We continue to advocate for continuous Medicaid coverage up to 12 months postpartum at the state and federal level. In the second federal COVID-19 funding package, we won increased funding for state Medicaid agencies, including requiring that states continue to cover beneficiaries, including pregnant women, for the duration of the emergency.
Key Resources
- Article: Postpartum Medicaid Coverage Extended During COVID-19: Resources for Your Practice (March 2020)
Additional Items
- Letter: Letter to House Committee on COVID-19 Budget Reconciliation Legislation (February 2021)
- Advocacy Brief: Telehealth and Remote Patient Monitoring for Pregnant and Postpartum Women (June 2020)
- Letter: Preserving Access to Obstetric and Gynecologic Care in Medicaid Managed Care During COVID-19 (June 2020)
- Letter: ACOG to CMS on Pending Postpartum Medicaid Waivers (June 2020)
- Letter: Letter to Congress on COVID-19 and Equitable Maternal Health (June 2020)
- Letter: ACOG to CMS Regarding Families First and Postpartum Coverage (May 2020)
- Article: ACOG Briefs Congress on Intersection of COVID-19 and Maternal Mortality (May 2020)
- Article: ACOG to Congress: Prioritize Women’s Health in Future COVID-19 Legislation (May 2020)
- Letter: ACOG to House and Senate: COVID 4 Priorities (May 2020)
- Letter: ACOG to President Trump on COVID-19 Response (March 2020)
- Letter: ACOG to House and Senate to Preserve Access to Medicaid (March 2020)
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ACOG is asking government officials at all levels to work with obstetrician–gynecologists to keep hospitals the safest place to give birth. We are concerned that women may not have access to accurate information about birthing safety and that some may change their birth plans unnecessarily. This has the potential to exacerbate our existing maternal mortality crisis. ACOG and our partners are continuing to lift up the message that hospitals and licensed, accredited birth centers remain the safest places to give birth.
Key Resources
- Release: ACOG Statement on Birth Settings (April 2020)
Additional Items
- Letter: ACOG to House and Senate: COVID 4 Priorities (May 2020)
- Article: ACOG Briefs White House Coronavirus Task Force Members on Needs of Ob–Gyns and Their Patients (May 2020)
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For both patients and clinicians, accessing and providing essential health care during a pandemic inflicts additional logistical, economic, and emotional turmoil. For abortion patients and clinicians, these challenges are even more pronounced, given the existing barriers to this care. As state governments act to limit elective procedures, ACOG is advocating to ensure essential procedures, including abortion, are not delayed or place under unjustified restrictions. We also called for policymakers to suspend restrictions on evidence-based administration of medication abortion including state bans on telemedicine and the FDA’s enforcement of medically unnecessary regulations on mifepristone. ACOG is also working to eliminate out-of-pocket cost barriers and insurance coverage gaps, and to expand telemedicine and pharmacy access to minimize obstacles to contraceptive initiation and continuation.
Key Resources
- Advocacy Brief: COVID-19 State Advocacy Brief: Access to Contraception (May 2020)
- Statement: Joint Statement on Elective Surgeries (May 2020)
- Statement: Joint Statement on Abortion Access During the COVID-19 Outbreak (March 2020)
Additional Items
- Letter: Medical Experts to Administration on Mifepristone (March 2021)
- Letter: ACOG to CMS on Pending Abortion Regulation and Threats to Patient Access to Care (April 2020)
- Article: ACOG Leads Coalition of Nearly 1 Million Medical Professionals to Oppose Texas Restrictions on Abortion During the COVID-19 Pandemic (April 2020)
- Letter: ACOG Open Letter to State Officials: COVID-19 Call to Action for Women’s Health (April 2020)
- Article: Patient-Centered Care for Pregnant Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic (March 2020)
Center At-Risk and Marginalized Communities
We must ensure that resources and care are distributed in such a way as to not exacerbate existing health inequities.
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Local, statewide, and national data regarding COVID-19 testing and outcomes, stratified by race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status and language ability, are critical to ensure accurate documentation of disproportionate effects and to ensure that resources are equitably distributed. These data should be reliably and consistently reported and available to health care systems, state and local health departments, government agencies, and the public, in order to coordinate and direct resources to those at highest risk and most affected by COVID-19 infection. We are calling on the Administration to standardize data collection efforts and include pregnant women in COVID-19 vaccine research.
Key Resources
- Article: Addressing Health Equity During the COVID-19 Pandemic (May 2020)
Additional Items
- Letter: Letter to ACIP regarding COVID-19 Vaccines and Pregnant and Lactating Women (October 2020)
- Letter: Letter to Congress on COVID-19 and Equitable Maternal Health (June 2020)
- Article: ACOG to Congress: Prioritize Women’s Health in Future COVID-19 Legislation (May 2020)
- Letter: ACOG to House and Senate: COVID 4 Priorities (May 2020)
- Article: ACOG Briefs Congress on Intersection of COVID-19 and Maternal Mortality (May 2020)
- Position Statement: Resumption of Comprehensive Women’s Health Care Policies and Processes (May 2020)
- Letter: Coalition to House and Senate on COVID-19 and the VACCINES Act (April 2020)
- Letter: ACOG to Secretary Azar on Racial Inequities During COVID-19 (April 2020)
- Letter: Coalition to NIH and FDA on COVID-19 (March 2020)
- Testimony: Disproportionate Impact of COVID-19 on Communities of Color (May 2020)
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The COVID-19 pandemic may exacerbate the severity of intimate partner violence. ACOG is aware of this risk and is urging policymakers to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
- Article: ACOG to Congress: Prioritize Women’s Health in Future COVID-19 Legislation (May 2020)
- Letter: ACOG to House and Senate: COVID 4 Priorities (May 2020)
- Article: Addressing Health Equity During the COVID-19 Pandemic (May 2020)
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ACOG is approaching our advocacy with an equity lens. It is crucial that we prioritize those already experiencing structural, societal, economic, and health inequities—including racism and gender oppression—in the COVID-19 response. We remain concerned that the maternal mortality crisis—especially the racial inequities—will be exacerbated by this crisis. We continue to prioritize combating racial inequities and disparities in maternal health access, services and health outcomes.
Key Resources
- Article: Addressing Health Equity During the COVID-19 Pandemic (May 2020)
Additional Items
- Letter: ACOG Urges the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to Vaccinate Pregnant Individuals Against COVID-19 (August 2021)
- Testimony: Protecting the Timely Delivery of Mail, Medicine, and Mail-in Ballots (August 2020)
- Letter: Letter to Congress on COVID-19 and Equitable Maternal Health (June 2020)
- Letter: ACOG to House and Senate: COVID 4 Priorities (May 2020)
- Article: ACOG Briefs Congress on Intersection of COVID-19 and Maternal Mortality (May 2020)
- Position Statement: Resumption of Comprehensive Women’s Health Care Policies and Processes (May 2020)
- Article: ACOG Urges President to Reinstate WHO Funding (May 2020)
- Letter: ACOG to Secretary Azar on Racial Inequities During COVID-19 (April 2020)
- Letter: Coalition to Congressional Leadership on Immigrant Health (April 2020)
- Letter: Coalition to the Senate on COVID-19 and WIC (March 2020)
- Letter: Coalition to Senate and House Leaders on COVID-19 and H.R. 6201 (March 2020)
- Testimony: Disproportionate Impact of COVID-19 on Communities of Color (May 2020)