American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Post Open Letter Urging Availability of COVID Vaccine to Pregnant People

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has posted an open letter urging payers and insurers to “continue making the COVID-19 vaccine available to pregnant people without undue utilization management or cost-sharing requirements.”

The letter emphasizes that all aspects of obstetric and gynecologic care should “be grounded in the best available scientific evidence,” which is even more important given “the historic gaps in research, investment, and support for women’s health.”

Research shows that “pregnant women who have COVID-19 are more likely to need care in an intensive care unit or with a ventilator, or to die from the illness. They are also more likely to have cesarean birth, preeclampsia or eclampsia, and blood clots. COVID-19-related complications are worse in pregnant women with particular comorbidities (e.g., hypertension and obesity) and socioeconomic risk factors.” Plus, infants “who are born following a COVID-19 infection during pregnancy are at an increased risk of low birth weight, stillbirth, respiratory distress, and rarely, vertical transmission. Data also continue to demonstrate that COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy is safe and effective, and that it protects pregnant patients and their infants after birth.”

The organization urges that “payers should be fully reimbursing for the cost of providing immunization counseling and administration services for all evidence-based vaccinations without utilization management practices or cost-sharing requirements for all patients. Payers have the authority to go above and beyond the baseline federal recommendations for vaccinations and can provide equitable and free access to this critical tool to increase availability for all patients.”