Policy Initiatives

SMFM is extremely active in advocacy at the federal level. Whether it is direct advocacy for research funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH); inclusion of maternal child health programs within the public health space at the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); or informing and educating policymakers about the impact of specific healthcare legislation, rules, and regulations on families with un-routine pregnancies, SMFM’s Health Policy and Advocacy Committee (HPAC) assists SMFM members by providing education, information, and advocacy tools. 

To improve outcomes, we need programs that deliver excellent care, and we need research on how best to care for complex pregnancy problems. SMFM members have testified in support of public health programs to prevent and treat complications, and we have provided expert policy guidance to Congress regarding research initiatives at the NIH.

SMFM has also participated in the Collaborative Improvement & Innovation Network (COIN) to Reduce Infant Mortality, lobbied for legislation aimed at reducing prematurity, and worked collaboratively with the maternal child health community to ensure the safety and efficacy of medications during pregnancy and lactation.

In the international arena, SMFM’s Global Health Committee seeks to improve outcomes for pregnant women in resource-limited settings around the world.

For more information, contact SMFM's Director of Government Relations, Rebecca Abbott.