SVMC Physicians Participate in National Effort to Reduce Maternal Mortality

BENNINGTON, VT—April 11, 2019—Last month, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) OB/GYNs Malcolm Paine, MD, (left) and Kimberley Sampson, MD, (right) joined 700 OB/GYNs from across the country to advocate for the passage of three acts that would help prevent maternal deaths. The meeting was an effort of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Paine chairs SVMC’s Department of Obstetrics and ACOG’s Vermont Chapter. Sampson serves as vice chair of ACOG’s Vermont Chapter.

“The United States is the only industrial nation where maternal deaths are on the rise,” said Sampson. “The aim is to provide care that will reverse this trend.”

Known as the “Momnibus,” this collection of legislation builds on the work of the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act, which was passed last year. It would support and expand both maternal and perinatal safety and quality improvement initiatives and efforts to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in maternal outcomes.

Most importantly, the legislation would extend Medicaid coverage to 12-months postpartum and work to keep the length of coverage of short-term catastrophic insurance plans, which do not cover maternal health needs, to 3 months, rather than up to 3 years.

“These may seem like small changes, but they truly have an effect on the lives of patients and their children,” Sampson said. “Both the positive and the negative results of the laws we make compound over time. We are proud to use our experiences and our voices to push change in the right direction.” 

For more information, visit the advocacy section of acog.org.

About SVHC:
Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) is a comprehensive, preeminent, health care system providing exceptional, convenient, and affordable care to the communities of Bennington and Windham Counties of Vermont, eastern Rensselaer and Washington Counties of New York, and northern Berkshire County in Massachusetts. SVHC includes Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), Southwestern Vermont Regional Cancer Center, the Centers for Living and Rehabilitation, and the SVHC Foundation. SVMC includes 25 primary and specialty care practices.

Southwestern Vermont Health Care complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. Language assistance services, free of charge, are available at 1-800-367-9559.

About ACOG:
Founded in 1951, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is the specialty's premier professional membership organization dedicated to the improvement of women’s health. With more than 58,000 members, the College is a 501(c)(6) organization and its activities include producing the College's practice guidelines and other educational material. Fellows of ACOG are board certified ob-gyns whose professional activities are devoted to the practice of obstetrics and/or gynecology, who possess unrestricted licenses to practice medicine, and have attained high ethical and professional standing. To learn more, visit ACOG.org.