ACNM and ACOG: Manager’s Amendment Makes a Bad Bill Worse; Vote NO on AHCA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Frank Purcell, ACNM, (703) 447-9809, [email protected]
                   Maggie McEvoy, ACOG, (202) 863-2553, [email protected]

Washington, DC—The American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) and The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) today released the following statement regarding updates to the American Health Care Act (AHCA) and the Manager’s Amendment:

“ACNM and ACOG stand for the care of women and newborns in all insurance plans, regardless of who a woman works for or where she lives. The AHCA and the Manager’s Amendment end this guarantee and radically turn back the clock on women’s health.

“The Affordable Care Act’s Essential Health Benefits guarantee that women have coverage and access to care at every stage of life, including during pregnancy. The AHCA will return women’s health to the vagaries of state politics. Members of the US House need to remember that, before the ACA, only 5 states required maternity coverage. Less coverage for women and newborns is directly linked to less use of prenatal care, which yields greater morbidity and mortality that drive higher costs for health and society in the short and long term. The additional funds to the Patient Safety and Stability Fund are little more than a band aid on a hemorrhage.

“We urge the Congress to vote NO on the AHCA, and work with ob-gyns and certified nurse-midwives to develop a bipartisan solution to improving health and reducing costs.”

About ACNM

With nearly 7800 members, ACNM is the professional association that represents certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) and certified midwives (CMs) in the United States. ACNM promotes excellence in midwifery education, clinical practice, and research. With roots dating to 1929, our members are primary care providers for women throughout the lifespan, with a special emphasis on pregnancy, childbirth, and gynecologic and reproductive health. ACNM provides research, administers and promotes continuing education programs, establishes clinical practice standards, and creates liaisons with state and federal agencies and members of Congress to increase the visibility and recognition of midwifery care.

About ACOG

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (The College), a 501(c)(3) organization, is the nation’s leading group of physicians providing health care for women. As a private, voluntary, nonprofit membership organization of more than 58,000 members, The College strongly advocates for quality health care for women, maintains the highest standards of clinical practice and continuing education of its members, promotes patient education, and increases awareness among its members and the public of the changing issues facing women’s health care. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), a 501(c)(6) organization, is its companion organization. www.acog.org