Midwives Work to Be Heard as House Circulates Dramatic Changes to ACA, Medicaid

Midwives are making their voices
heard on Capitol Hill for women and newborns, as proposals have begun
circulating in the U.S. House of Representatives making dramatic changes in
Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Medicaid programs important to women's health. In
this time of rapid action on Capitol Hill, ACNM is continuing to urge members
to contact
Congress now in support of the top health priorities for midwifery.


House GOP leadership sent
legislators home for President's Day recess with talking points outlining plans to repeal and
replace ACA.  Draft
bill language dated Feb. 10 included several provisions deeply concerning
to midwives, including language allowing states to decide maternity care
coverage and other Essential Health Benefits that are now national standards.
It also would significantly reduce subsidies available for health coverage, and
substantially reduce Medicaid payments especially to those states that expanded
Medicaid with ACA resources. An Avalere
analysis circulated at the National Governors Association meeting late
February said the draft plan would significantly reduce the number of persons
with health coverage in the U.S. Legislative action is not yet scheduled, but
is anticipated to begin in March.





In a letter to congressional
leaders, ACNM President Lisa Kane Low, PhD, CNM, FACNM, FAAN, stated, "We want
you to know that midwives will stand for improving access to quality care and
coverage for women and newborns, for eliminating unnecessary barriers to
midwifery in the health system, and for strengthening our health care workforce
especially in underserved parts of our country."