ACNM & Midwives Work for Women in Health Legislation, Addressing Opioid Crisis
ACNM and midwives are working to promote women's access to health, care and coverage as new legislation was introduced in the Senate June 22 to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and as groups including ACNM met in Washington the same day at a National Opioid Summit to address challenges in Medicaid coverage for treatment - especially for women.
In the Senate, the "Better Care Reconciliation Act" (HR 1628) is under review by ACNM now. More details and an important advocacy call to action for midwives will be released Friday, June 23, with our ACNM Policy Update email to membership. As Congress has considered legislation repealing and replacing ACA, ACNM and midwives have been strong and clear: We oppose turning back the clock on women's health, and we support efforts that "continue to protect women's access to care, preventative services, Medicare and Medicaid services coverage, and reproductive and sexual health benefits."
As part of the Opioid Summit titled "Opioid Epidemic: Crisis to Care in Medicaid," ACNM Director of Advocacy Amy Kohl, CEO Sheri Sesay-Tuffour and Susan Stemmler, PhD, FNP, CNM, a midwife and expert in care in American Indian populations, discussed with legislators the important policy changes needed to support CNMs/CMs providing care, including medication assisted therapy (MAT), for women with opioid use disorders. ACNM is a summit partner.