Action Alert Midwives for MOMS 2023

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Action Alert

Ask your legislators to co-sponsor Midwives for MOMS

Call your Senators and House Representative today!

The American Association of Birth Centers (AABC) needs your help!

Call your legislators and ask them to co-sponsor the Midwives for Maximizing Optimal Maternity Services Act, Midwives for MOMS, H.R. 3768/S.1851.

This bipartisan legislation seeks to increase access to high quality, evidence-based midwifery providers by creating federal grant funding opportunities for accredited midwifery education programs with the goal of diversifying our nation's midwifery workforce.

In June 2023 the bill was reintroduced in the House by Representatives Ashley Hinson (R-IA) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), and in the Senate by Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). It is an integral piece of the policy puzzle that seeks to improve our nation’s shameful maternal health system. Additional information/text is available here.

Use AABC's easy, automated system to call and email your Senators and House Representative.

Let’s all do our part! Take action today to help grow capacity and diversify our nation’s midwifery workforce.

Background

Despite spending more than any other country for maternity care, the US ranks behind almost all other developed countries in childbirth outcomes for both parents and babies. According to the CDC, in 2021 about 1200 pregnant people died because of pregnancy or delivery complications, and 60% of these losses were preventable. The racial and geographic disparities in these statistics are appalling, and maternal mortality is just the tip of the iceberg. More than 50,000 people experience severe complications of pregnancy that adversely impact their health. Our infant mortality rates are higher than 33 other countries with similar resources, and we have made some of the slowest progress in the world in reducing stillbirth rates. Simultaneously, the U.S. is facing a growing shortage of trained maternity care providers, and the March of Dimes reports that more than 5 million women in the US currently live in a “maternity care desert,” an area where hospitals do not offer obstetric care, birthing services or specialized providers.

Decades of research have shown that midwives provide safe, satisfying, and cost-effective care, but compared to other countries they are vastly underused as providers. The Midwives for MOMS Act is designed to expand educational opportunities for midwives by establishing two new funding streams for midwifery education: one in the Title VII Health Professions Training Programs, and one in the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs. Additionally, the bill will address the significant lack of diversity in the maternity care workforce by prioritizing students from minority or disadvantaged backgrounds.

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As your legislators to co-sponsor Midwives for MOMS!

US Senators

These are the talking points that will have the biggest impact.

These are the talking points that will have the biggest impact.

Ask to speak with the healthcare legislative aide or leave a message including your phone number for a call back. DONT HANG UP until you've spoken with both Senators and your House Representative. The system will automatically connect you to the next call after your legislator hangs up.

1) I am a _____ (midwife, birth center supporter, staff, parent, physician, or other) in your state. (Briefly tell your story)
2) I’m calling you today to ask Senator (or Representative) ___________ to become a co-sponsor of the Midwives for MOMS bill, HR 3768/S 1851.
3) As you know, we have a critical shortage of maternity care providers in the US. This bill will grow and diversify the midwifery workforce to help alleviate that shortage. This will improve outcomes for communities—especially in rural and underserved areas where some people must drive over an hour to access care.
4) 35% of U.S. counties have no perinatal care services. In these areas, pregnancy related deaths and serious complications are higher.
5) This bill would expand scholarship opportunities for students enrolled in accredited midwifery education programs, which will increase access to care provided by nationally certified midwives.
6) Numerous studies show that more use of midwives saves healthcare dollars, by reducing unnecessary procedures and improving outcomes. This bill will save money by increasing access to midwives in the US.
7) Midwives remain underutilized in the US health care system, attending only 12% of births in the US compared to almost 80% in other high resource countries.
8) We must take action to improve access to high quality perinatal care. Will your boss sign on as a co-sponsor of the Midwives for MOMs bill?

Full bill name for their reference: Midwives for Maximizing Optimal Maternity Services bill, House bill 3768/Senate bill 1851.

*If you're a decision maker at a midwifery practice, consider inviting your legislator to visit your birth center, hospital or clinic to hear from staff or families about the impact of midwifery care in their community.*
1) We would like to invite Senator/Representative _________ and staff to visit our birth center/clinic for a tour so they can see the benefits of midwifery care to communities in our state.

REMEMBER Stay on the line between calls until you've spoke with all three legislators!!

US House of Representatives

These are the talking points that will have the biggest impact.

1) Ask to speak with the healthcare legislative aide or leave a message including your phone number for a call back. DONT HANG UP until you've spoken with both Senators and your House Representative. The system will automatically connect you after your legislator hangs up.
2) I am a _____ (midwife, birth center supporter, staff, parent, physician, or other) in your state. (Briefly tell your story)
3) I’m calling you today to ask Representative ___________ to become a co-sponsor of the Midwives for MOMS bill.
4) As you know, we have a critical shortage of maternity care providers in the US. This bill will grow and diversify the midwifery workforce to help alleviate that shortage. This relieves pressures on healthcare systems and improves outcomes for communities—especially in rural and underserved areas where some people have to drive over an hour to access care.
5) 35% of U.S. counties have no perinatal care services. In these areas, pregnancy related deaths and serious complications like postpartum hemorrhage are higher.
6) This bill would expand scholarship opportunities for students enrolled in accredited midwifery education programs, which will increase access to evidence-based and culturally congruent care provided by nationally certified midwives.
7) Numerous studies show that better integration of midwives can help reduce maternal and neonatal mortality, unnecessary cesarean, preterm birth, and low birth weight. Growing the midwifery workforce will reduce racial health disparities, and save lives.
8) Midwifery care has also been associated with more efficient use of resources, increased rates of spontaneous labor, vaginal birth, and breastfeeding.
9) Still, midwives remain drastically underutilized in the US health system. Midwives attend only 10% of births in the US compared to almost 80% in other high resource countries.
10) We must take action to improve access to high quality perinatal care. Will your boss sign on as a co-sponsor of the Midwives for MOMs bill?

Full bill name for their reference: Midwives for Maximizing Optimal Maternity Services bill, HR 3768/S 1851.

*If you're a decision maker at a midwifery practice, consider inviting your legislator to visit your birth center, hospital or clinic to hear from staff or families about the impact of midwifery care in their community.*
1) We would like to invite Senator/Representative _________ and staff to visit our birth center/clinic for a tour so they can witness first hand the benefits of midwifery care to communities in our state.

REMEMBER DONT HANG UP until you've spoke with all three legislators!!

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