Ob-Gyns Tell Congress: Don’t Turn Back the Clock on Women’s Health

Washington, DC—Six hundred ob-gyns are in Washington, D.C., today to meet with their members of Congress and deliver a firm message: Don’t turn back the clock on women’s health.

Members of The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the nation’s largest professional membership organization for women’s health care physicians, are urging a NO vote on the American Health Care Act (AHCA). Last week, ACOG outlined concerns with how the AHCA will affect women’s access to health care coverage, and yesterday the Congressional Budget Office issued a report confirming many of those concerns —estimating 14 million fewer Americans will have health care coverage in 2018 and 24 million by 2026. We cannot afford the devastating effect this will have on the health and well-being of all Americans, especially women and families.

In addition to a NO vote, ACOG is also seeking support for policies that protect and improve women’s health. Ob-gyns are meeting with representatives in their districts and asking them to cosponsor a resolution introduced by Representative Susan Davis (D-CA), to proactively demonstrate their support for the women’s health coverage gains under current law.

In addition, ob-gyns are calling on their members to support H.R. 1318, the bipartisan Preventing Maternal Deaths Act, introduced by Representatives Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA), John Conyers (D-MI), Ryan Costello (R-PA), and Diana DeGette (D-CO). Protecting the health of moms and babies resonates on both sides of the aisle. By supporting local solutions that work, this legislation aims to reverse the devastating and costly health consequences that threaten the lives of moms and babies across the country.

When women are healthy, everyone benefits. We have made tremendous advances to improve women’s access to needed health care coverage. ACOG is proud to stand with these dedicated members of Congress to ensure that we continue this forward momentum and don’t turn back the clock on women’s health.

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