News

May is Preeclampsia Awareness Month

When I was a medical student, the disease process of preeclampsia was one of the things that sparked my interest in the field of obstetrics. Today, I am passionate about teaching patients and their families about preeclampsia because it is one of the most common conditions I manage. What Is... Continue Reading

Nuchal Translucency Credentialing & Coding

Authors: The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) Coding Committee; Steve Rad, MD, FACOG; Brad Hart, MBA, MS, CPC, CPMA, COBGC; Vanita Jain, MD, FACOG. Background: First trimester screening includes biochemical markers, fetal nuchal translucency (NT) assessment via ultrasound (CPT 76813;... Continue Reading

Being Exposed to Wildfire Smoke Increases Risk of Going into Labor Prematurely

San Francisco, Calif. ― The detrimental effects of poor air quality on a person’s health are well documented. In pregnant people, research has shown that poor air quality, such as smog, can lead to a number of adverse outcomes, including preterm birth (PTB), one of the leading causes of... Continue Reading

Study of FDA-cleared Device to Treat Postpartum Hemorrhage Finds Device Highly Safe and Effective

Novel Device Offers Care Teams Another Way to Manage this Potentially Life-threatening Condition San Francisco, Calif. ― Postpartum hemorrhage — severe bleeding after childbirth — is a leading cause of maternal deaths worldwide. There have been few innovations in treatment in recent... Continue Reading

Ultrasound Storage of Images and Documentation Within Reports

Coding Tip: Ultrasound Storage of Images and Documentation Within Reports Complete documentation of work performed is a central tenet of optimal care and communication between medical teams. The ultrasound report serves as an instrument of communication between providers and acts as... Continue Reading

Aneuploidy Screening in Twin Pregnancies

Brar B, Iriye B, and the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine Practice Management & Coding Committees The Problem Over the last four decades, twin pregnancies have increased from 18.9 per 1,000 births in 1980 to 32.6 per 1,000 births in 2018. (1) With this increase in incidence... Continue Reading

Utah medical professionals support the right to legal abortion

Utah law removes women from their proper role as decision makers Comprehensive reproductive health care includes abortion care. There is ample evidence that timely access to safe and legal abortion improves health outcomes, and barriers to access worsen outcomes. These harms have an especially... Continue Reading

SMFM Joined 75+ Health Care Groups to Oppose Legislative Interference in Patient-Clinician Affairs

Washington, D.C.—The following is a statement from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Medical Association, joined by the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine; American Academy of Family Physicians; American Academy of Nursing; American Academy of... Continue Reading

Maternal Health Specialists Issue Joint Statement on Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization

As organizations representing health care professionals specializing in the provision of maternal care, we join together to denounce the decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. This decision promises to severely limit many of our members' ability to provide high-quality,... Continue Reading

High-Quality Diet in Pregnancy is Associated with a Lower Risk of Fetal Growth Restriction

Washington, DC ― Research has shown that an unhealthy diet during pregnancy can have long-term effects on a child’s health. Now, in a new study to be presented today at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine’s (SMFM) annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting™, which is being held... Continue Reading

World’s Leading Clinicians and Researchers to Examine Social Determinants of Health

Washington, DC ― It has been well documented by the World Health Organization and others that social determinants of health (SDOH) — a person’s economic and social conditions — can have a major impact on their health, well-being, and quality of life. SDOH also contribute to wide... Continue Reading

Coding for the “new” First Trimester Detailed Diagnostic Obstetric Ultrasound

Vanita Jain MD & Fadi Bsat MD for the SMFM Coding Committee and the Division of Practice Management In 2020, the AIUM Practice Parameter for the Performance of Detailed Diagnostic Obstetric Ultrasound Examinations Between 12 weeks 0 days and 13 weeks 6 days was developed in collaboration with... Continue Reading