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SMFM's E-Newsletter
for State Liaison Network Members
September 2021
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As we come to the unofficial end of summer, SMFM's Public Affairs Team sends our best wishes for a successful back to school, our hope that the fourth wave of COVID-19 quickly ebbs, and our thoughts for those continuing to provide obstetric care despite recent and ongoing natural disasters.
We thank you for your ongoing participation in the State Liaison Network (SLN), and we hope this month's newsletter helps inform your important work. Please send any feedback or items for distribution directly to Becky Abbott, Director of Government Relations (rabbott@smfm.org).
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JOIN A COMMITTEE
Ready to step up your involvement from SLN member to SMFM committee member? Now is the time to apply! The Society is accepting applications for committee service via the SMFM website. The deadline to apply is September 15, 2021 . If you have questions or difficulties applying, please contact SMFM's Director of Member Services and Strategic Partnerships, Tim Heinle.
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A Texas-based SLN Member alerted SMFM about a harmful anti-abortion bill quickly moving in the Texas legislature's special session. The bill, SB4, places further restrictions on medication abortion and imposes impossible reporting requirements, with criminal consequences, on clinicians. SMFM sent a letter signed by SMFM's President and 10 Texas-based members to leaders in the Texas House of Representatives opposing SB4. While the bill ultimately passed, it was critical to express the Society's opposition, which was noted by Representatives during floor debate on the bill.
Thank you to our Texas SLN members for your leadership and for highlighting this advocacy opportunity. We encourage other SLN members to contact Becky Abbott (rabbott@smfm.org) if we can support your local advocacy and public health work.
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REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH HAPPENINGS
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In other news from the Lone Star State, on September 1, Texas' 6-week abortion ban (SB8) took effect. The law allows private citizens to enforce the law by suing anyone who "aids and abets" in abortion care, including those who refer patients. The following day, the Supreme Court failed to block enforcement of the law, thus allowing the state to impose the strictest restrictions on abortion since Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973.
In response, SMFM issued a public-facing statement expressing strong opposition to the Supreme Court's decision and calling on Congress to intervene. We are also creating a new section on the Reproductive Health Project for Maternal-Fetal Medicine website that will serve as a resource hub for members in Texas and elsewhere.
SMFM will continue to closely monitor implementation of SB8. In the meantime, please use SMFM's template letter to ask your members of Congress to protect comprehensive reproductive health care services by passing the Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA) and the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance (EACH) Act.
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CDC RECOMMENDS COVID-19 VACCINE FOR PREGNANT PEOPLE
August brought a steady stream (river?) of updates and announcements related to COVID-19. Most importantly, the CDC updated its guidance to recommend that pregnant people be vaccinated against COVID-19. Thanks to the dedicated physician advocates who kept the pressure on CDC to make this change to protect the health of pregnant people and their infants. ( CDC Press Release | CDC Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines | COVID-19 Vaccination During Pregnancy Data Tracker)
Following CDC's change in guidance, SMFM quickly released a public-facing statement calling for the inclusion of pregnant and lactating people in COVID-19 vaccine mandates from employers, universities, and other entities.
WHAT ELSE HAPPENED?
Here's a sampling of other COVID-19 related news you might have missed.
WHAT'S AHEAD?
The FDA's vaccine advisory committee will meet on September 17 to discuss data on a booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The meeting comes just three days before the Biden administration promised to make booster shots available to Americans. However, media reports are speculating that FDA and CDC vaccine advisory committees might not yet have the data to recommend boosters for all Americans.
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SMFM CALLS FOR MATERNAL HEALTH PROVISIONS IN RECONCILIATION PACKAGE
postpartum Medicaid coverage. On August 17, SMFM joined more than 200 organizations in writing to Congressional leaders urging them to include postpartum Medicaid extension and provisions of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus in the final reconciliation package.
�� CALL TO ACTION ��
Help SMFM and our partners build momentum for including maternal health provisions in the reconciliation package by joining the Invest in Maternal Health Tweetstorm on Thursday, September 9, from 2 pm - 3pm ET (11 am - 12 pm PT). Additional details and a digital toolkit with sample social media messaging can be found here. This activity is being led by the Black Maternal Health Federal Policy Collective, the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, and Community Catalyst.
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The Biden Administration took steps in mid-August to revoke Medicaid work requirements in three additional states - Ohio, South Carolina, and Utah. With the actions, the Administration is closer to eliminating work requirements in the 12 states that received approval for those requirements during the Trump Administration. The Administration also opened a comment period on Tennessee's divisive Medicaid reform plan.
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PUBLIC HEALTH & QUALITY CORNER
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NEW MATERNAL MORTALITY MEASURES FROM CMS
In a final rule issued August 2, 2021, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) adopted a new required "structural measure" intended to reduce maternal morbidity. The metric requires hospitals participating in the Inpatient Quality Reporting program to certify that 1) they are participating in a statewide or national Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative and 2) they have implemented patient safety practices or bundles related to maternal morbidity to address complications, including, but not limited to, hemorrhage, severe hypertension/preeclampsia, or sepsis. The first report will be due in FY 2023 covering activities during October through December 2021. Details on the measure are at this link.
AIM LAUNCHES NEWEST BUNDLE
In August, the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) launched its newest bundle - Cardiac Conditions in Obstetrical Care. SMFM will keep you informed as additional information about this new bundle is made available.
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FEDERAL FUNDING & COMMENT OPPORTUNITIES
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