2023 Commitment to Policy Action

Drive Policies to Promote Equity in Health Care Access and Services and Improved Health Outcomes

• Enhance maternal health and accelerate efforts underway to address the nation’s maternal mortality crisis, including implementation of 12 months of continuous postpartum coverage for Medicaid beneficiaries, and supporting state maternal mortality review committees
• Support, protect, and expand health care coverage and patient protections, including strengthening the Medicaid safety net and protections guaranteed under the Affordable Care Act
• Eliminate discrimination, racism, and racial inequities in health care and health outcomes with goal of achieving health equity, including prioritizing communities marginalized and disproportionately impacted by legislative interference and public health crises
• Advocate for the inclusion of pregnant and lactating people in research and clinical trials
• Support, defend, and expand access to and availability of comprehensive evidence-based obstetric and gynecologic care, including abortion
• Promote and enhance investment in public health infrastructure and evidence-based public health education to prepare for future health crises

Support the Practice of Obstetrician-Gynecologists and Ensure Fair and Equitable Payment

• Address barriers to our members’ ability to practice comprehensive obstetrics and gynecology
• Expand the footprint on physician payment and oppose unfair reimbursement policies by governmental and commercial entities
• Propose and advocate for long-term solutions to prevent the continued decline in physician payment
• Advocate for policies that sustain obstetric and gynecologic practices, including equitable coverage and payment for telehealth services
• Advance policies that protect the physical and emotional health and well-being of physicians and promote measures to sustain physician practices
• Oppose civil, criminal, and other penalties on clinicians who provide evidence-based, comprehensive obstetric and gynecologic care

Shape Public Discourse and Policies to Promote Science and Respectful, Inclusive Care

• Work to support and elect candidates who share ACOG’s commitment to evidence-based health care and the specialty of obstetrics and gynecology
• Counter inaccurate and politicized rhetoric that undermines science or seeks to erode the patient-physician relationship
• Equip our members with tools and resources and lead medical coalitions to elevate fact-based policies related to ob-gyn care
• Maximize efforts and partnerships to counter anti-vaccine and anti-science sentiment and rhetoric