Advocacy Round-Up: ACOG Briefs Congress, Continues to Speak with White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator

ACOG remains hard at work advocating for you, your patients, and your practices as you continue your work on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. This week, ACOG CEO Maureen Phipps, MD, MPH continued her conversation with White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Ambassador Deborah Birx, MD on a plan to prioritize access to testing for labor and delivery units. Dr. Phipps also expressed our continued concerns with the rise in home births, and its potential to exacerbate the maternal mortality crisis. Ambassador Birx committed to continue reinforcing her message that ob-gyns are committed to their patients and hospitals are safe places to give birth.

Dr. Phipps also spoke with Congressman Ami Bera, MD this week and also emphasized the need for additional liability protections for ob-gyns serving patients during the pandemic.

As Congress continues to deliberate additional stimulus legislation to respond to the pandemic, ACOG is working with coalition partners to share ACOG’s priorities.

We joined with the American Medical Association and others to prioritize the need for additional financial assistance for physicians and practices, liability protections, support for residents, and adequate reimbursement for telemedicine. As a member of the Partnership for Medicaid, ACOG urged Congress to support the safety net and prioritize Medicaid, including by increasing Medicaid reimbursement to at least Medicare rates. 

ACOG Briefs Congress

ACOG hosted a virtual briefing on Thursday for congressional staff on “Providing Safe Maternity Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic: What the Evidence Tells Us and How Congress Can Help.”

Speakers included ACOG experts and members of ACOG’s Immunization, Infectious Disease, and Public Health Preparedness Work Group Denise Jamieson, MD, MPH, FACOG and Laura Riley, MD, FACOG. They were joined by Rahul Gupta, MD, Chief Medical and Health Officer at the March of Dimes, and Cathy Collins-Fulea, DNP, CNM, FACNM, President-Elect of the American College of Nurse-Midwives. Speakers were united in referring to ACOG guidance for pregnant patients and underscoring the need for continued prenatal care and the steps hospitals are taking to ensure patient safety. You can watch a recording of the briefing online.

Share Your Stories

ACOG's advocacy is informed by you. We work at the state and federal level year round, pushing for the needs of you, your practices, and your patients. But, we need your help. It is essential that elected officials hear from you directly as they continue to advance policies and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic — share your stories and challenges from the frontlines. ACOG's advocacy tool makes it quick and easy to provide your critical voice.