Blumenthal Joins Bipartisan Group of Senators in Urging HHS to Review Guidelines to Reduce Infant Mortality

Press Release

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) joined a bipartisan group of senators in urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to review updated guidelines for the prevention of preterm birth submitted by the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) in August 2014.

"We cannot afford further delay in moving forward on initiatives -- many of which can be implemented with relative ease through the use of existing technologies -- that have the potential to lower the rate of preterm birth in our country," the senators wrote in their letter. "We respectfully request that HHS expedite its review of the professional organizations' updated guidelines and develop a plan encompassing next steps to address infant mortality. Additionally, we ask that your department provide a response to last year's letter from SMFM, ACOG, and ACNM and give full and fair consideration to the suggested guidelines issued by the professional societies."

Leading infant and maternal health organizations SMFM, ACOG, and ACNM submitted guidelines to HHS on how to reduce preterm birth while also reducing costs. The guidelines include use of routine universal screening for premature cervical shortening mid-pregnancy and equitable access to progesterone treatment as one strategy for reducing preterm birth.

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