Women’s Preventive Services Initiative Receives Five-Year Grant Extension

Washington, DC – The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) is pleased that the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration has awarded ACOG a five-year cooperative agreement to continue the work of the Women’s Preventive Services Initiative (WPSI), a coalition of national health professional organizations and consumer and patient advocates with expertise in women’s health across the lifespan to develop, review, and update recommendations for preventive healthcare services, including HRSA-sponsored Women’s Preventive Services Guidelines. These HRSA-adopted recommendations help ensure that women receive a comprehensive set of preventive services without having to pay a co-payment, co-insurance or deductible.

“Our clinicians have found the recommendations developed by WPSI invaluable. The five-year extension of the WPSI means that ACOG members will continue to receive guidance for preventive care that reflect patient needs and emerging clinical evidence,” said Eva Chalas, MD, FACOG, FACS, President of ACOG. “It also means that patients will continue to have the opportunity to receive essential preventive care at no costs to them, which will help to establish equity in health care and disease prevention.”

“The National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health (NPWH) is proud of the first five years of collaborative work that launched the Women's Preventive Services Initiative. Every day, the WPSI Recommendations support Women's Health Nurse Practitioners and other Advanced Practice Registered Nurses working in women’s health in providing the evidence-based care that women deserve. We are honored to continue our work as a partner in the Women’s Preventive Services Initiative, helping to improve women's health throughout the lifespan," stated Heather L. Maurer, Chief Executive Officer, NPWH.

“The American College of Physicians (ACP) is committed to promoting gender equity to ensure high-quality healthcare for all women,” said Jacqueline W. Fincher, MD, MACP, president, ACP. “We are excited to be a founding member of this leading coalition to ensure women receive the recommended preventive health services based on their age and risk factors.”

"Family physicians provide primary care to women of all ages, so it is essential that we are at the table to review these recommendations," stated R. Shawn Martin, Executive Vice President and CEO of the American Academy of Family Physicians. "We are committed to providing guidance to our members based on a rigorous evaluation of evidence, and we look forward to working on this grant with our colleague associations to ensure that women in America receive the most current, evidence-based, cost-effective preventive care."