A Health Policy and Advocacy Update - December 2024 |
Thank you for your participation in the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine’s State Liaison Network (SLN). Our quarterly newsletter brings you the latest advocacy, policy, and public health updates, happenings, and actions from the Society.
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The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Maternal and Child Health Bureau is recruiting for a new Chief Medical Officer. This position is based in Rockville, Maryland at HRSA headquarters and will serve in the Office of the Associate Administrator. Consider applying to help guide HRSA's critical portfolio of maternal and child health programs. Applications are due on January 6, 2025. |
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Louisiana – Dr. Jane Martin penned an op-ed in Stat News.
Massachusetts – Dr. Chloe Zera provided written testimony to the Massachusetts Medical Society in support of a resolution that would protect patients from anti-abortion centers, otherwise referred to as crisis-pregnancy centers (CPCs). |
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Have you been advocating for reproductive and perinatal health in your state? Share your work with SMFM by emailing Samantha Berg at [email protected]. |
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| SMFM continues to submit friend of the court briefs to protect access to health care services critical to our mission.
In October, SMFM joined our partners in three federal level amicus briefs. The first was in Bryant v. Stein supporting access to mifepristone in response to North Carolina’s regulations and requirements for prescribing physicians. The second brief was in Becerra v. Braidwood, supporting access to preventive services without cost sharing. Finally, the third brief was in United States v. Moyle supporting EMTALA and access to abortion care.
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In addition to these briefs, the Society also signed onto written testimony with the Massachusetts Mind the Gap Coalition in November in support of guidance by the Division of Insurance on the PMAD coverage. |
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Most state legislatures are out of session and preparing for 2025. Below are the latest updates from over the fall.
Perinatal health advancements The following bills were enacted within the past three months: |
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California AB.1936: requires health care service plans and insurers to develop maternal mental health programs, including at least one mental health screening during pregnancy and one within the first six weeks postpartum, and additional screenings as necessary determined by the treating provider
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California AB.2319: requires hospitals, alternative birthing centers, and primary care clinics to implement evidence-based implicit bias training for all healthcare providers who provide perinatal care
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- Delaware HB.362: requires all health insurance policies in Delaware to provide coverage for doula services
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New Jersey S.912: requires healthcare professionals to work with patients to develop personalized postpartum care plans
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New York A.8168: expands Medicaid coverage to include remote ultrasound scans and remote fetal non-stress tests
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Pennsylvania HB.1608: establishes the Doula Advisory Board, which will review best practices for doula services, participation in the Medical Assistance Program, and how to address disparities in maternal health services.
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Pennsylvania HB.2127: requires hospitals, birth centers, physicians, and midwives to offer resources about perinatal and postpartum mood and anxiety disorders (PMAD) to patients; requires the Department of Health to maintain and update said resources and launch a public awareness campaign about PMAD
Celebrating abortion care wins -
Seven states passed ballot measures protecting access to abortion care: Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, and New York.
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Delaware passe SB.301, which requires all Delaware universities with student health centers to provide access to medication abortion and emergency contraception
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In November, a judge in Wyoming struck down the state's bans on abortion care. The decision has been appealed and will be heard by the state's Supreme Court in 2025.
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Monitoring abortion care bans and restrictions
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As of December 18, 2024, 20 states have abortion bans up to 20 weeks gestation currently or soon to be in effect: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia.
13 of these states (Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia) have total bans.
For up to date information on state abortion policies, see resources from Abortion Finder, Guttmacher Institute and the New York Times. You can also track pending state legislation alongside SMFM staff on our Advocacy Hub.
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SMFM AND PARTNER RESOURCES |
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Don't forget to utilize SMFM's Advocacy Hub! This is your one-stop shop for all things advocacy, providing all the information you need about SMFM’s advocacy priorities, activities and updates, and more. The Hub includes a state bill tracker that can help you monitor what is being proposed in your state, as well as an easy-to-use portal for you to request SMFM engagement and support for your advocacy efforts. You can also send your fellow SMFM members here to sign up for the State Liaison Network.
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Center for Reproductive Rights – 2024 State Legislative Wrap-Up
During 2024, the Center for Reproductive Rights tracked almost 2,000 pieces of reproductive rights legislation across 50 states, and Washington, D.C. This report highlights 2024 legislative trends impacting access to abortion care, assisted reproduction, and maternal health care. Center on Poverty and Inequality, Georgetown Law – Nowhere to Turn: State Abortion Bans and the Failure to Support Women with Public Benefits
Since the overturning of Roe vs. Wade in 2022, many low-income women have nowhere to turn: they face the economic repercussions of being denied abortion care and lack access to the support they need to care for a growing family. This brief looks at how abortion bans and insufficient public benefits at the state level affect women and families. It finds that states with abortion bans often do not provide enough supportive resources for growing families, like health care, food assistance, and cash support. The brief also offers federal policy recommendations to help families meet their everyday needs—no matter what state they live in.
Guttmacher Institute – State Policy Trends 2024
In this report, Guttmacher provides a state trends analysis that examines state policies related to reproductive health. The report also includes statements from partner organizations across the United States who are working to safeguard reproductive health and rights. Their perspectives highlight how state policies impact grassroots organizations and the communities they serve.
Pregnancy Justice – Pregnancy as a Crime: A Preliminary Report on the First Year After Dobbs
The report Pregnancy as a Crime: A Preliminary Report on the First Year After Dobbs documents that in the first year after the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, at least 210 pregnant people faced criminal charges for conduct associated with their pregnancy, abortion, pregnancy loss, or birth.
The report finds that in the one-year period from June 24, 2022 to June 23, 2023, there was the highest number of pregnancy-related prosecutions documented in a single year.
National Institute for Reproductive Health – Role of Government in Pregnancy
The National Institute for Reproductive Health, in partnership with Perry Undem and Lake Research, presents a novel approach to abortion polling research on the role of government. For the first time post-Dobbs, this study provides an in-depth look into current perceptions and preferences about the role of government in abortion – including abortion later in pregnancy. This research – including qualitative and quantitative research – examined whether and why Americans’ views on the role of government in pregnancy decisions have shifted since Roe was overturned, with explicit exploration around abortion later in pregnancy.
National Partnership for Women and Families – Threats on All Fronts: December 2024
This report analyzes how well states are doing to support women’s freedom to make decisions about their lives and care for themselves and those they love. Since Roe v. Wade was overturned, the states that have enacted restrictive abortion bans are the very same states that have also made the least progress on other policies vital for maternal health, and on economic policies such as paid family leave that enable people to get timely health care and provide for their families. Conversely, states that are protective of abortion access tend also to have other policies that are supportive of women and families.
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Please share any feedback or items for future newsletters directly with Samantha Berg,
SMFM's State Advocacy Manager ([email protected]) |
Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine
PO Box 420016, Washington, DC 20042-0016 |
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