News

State, Planned Parenthood argue parental consent law before Supreme Court

The state argued Wednesday before the Montana Supreme Court that a Helena judge was wrong last year when he struck down a parental consent law for minors seeking abortions, saying minors are not entitled to the same privacy rights as adults and that the lower judge should have focused on balancing... Continue Reading

High step counts can help women avoid complications in childbirth, Israeli study reveals

A new Israeli study found that when pregnant women near the end of their pregnancy walked around from 2,900 steps during their first trimester to 2,100 to 2,200 steps during the ninth month, they can significantly reduce the risk of having to get the baby by cesarean section. The exercise also... Continue Reading

No More Counting! Current Requirements for Performing and Documenting E/M Services

Learn more about the updated requirements for performing and documenting Evaluation and Management (E/M) Services in this month's Coding Tip from SMFM's Coding Committee. Continue Reading

Coding for the Pelvic Examination Practice Expense Code, CPT 99459

Learn more about coding for the pelvic examination practice expense code, CPT 99459, in this month's Coding Tip from SMFM's Coding Committee. Continue Reading

Consensus Statement on Threats to Reproductive and Maternal Health Care

American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists | American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists | American Gynecological and Obstetrical Society | American Society for Reproductive Medicine | American Urogynecologic Society | Council of University Chairs of Obstetrics and Gynecology |... Continue Reading

Study Finds Black Birthing People Prefer Black Obstetric Providers Due to Discrimination and Fear

New Study Finds Black Birthing People Prefer Black Obstetric Providers Due to Experiences of Discrimination and Fear of Dying During Pregnancy or Childbirth National Harbor, Md. ― Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention demonstrate that Blackwomen in the United States are three... Continue Reading

New Study Finds No Significant Association Between Preterm Delivery and Autism

New Study Finds No Significant Association Between Preterm Delivery and Autism National Harbor, Md. ― Autism, also known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is one of the most commondevelopmental disorders and is increasingly diagnosed worldwide. According to the World HealthOrganization, an... Continue Reading

New Study Finds Roughly 1 in 10 Pregnant People Will Develop Long COVID

National Harbor, MD. ― While there is a growing body of research about the long-term effects of COVID in the general adult population, little research has been done on the long-term impacts on those who get COVID while pregnant.In a new study to be presented today at the Society for Maternal-Fetal... Continue Reading

Study Finds Antibiotic is a Cost-Saving Treatment for Reducing Maternal Sepsis, Death, in Developing

National Harbor, MD. ― Sepsis, a severe infection that can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death, isone of the top three causes of maternal deaths worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. Thelife-threatening emergency is largely preventable with early diagnosis and... Continue Reading

Study Finds that Pregnancy Complications Can Also Affect Child’s Health Later in Life

National Harbor, MD. ― Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and gestational diabetes (GDM) are twoof the most common pregnancy complications and put pregnant people at increased risk of developingcardiovascular disease later in life.Now, in a new study to be presented today at the Society for... Continue Reading

Olympic Athlete and Maternal Health Advocate Allyson Felix to be Honored by SMFM on Feb. 12

WHO: The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) is the medical professional society for maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) subspecialists, obstetricians with additional training in high-risk pregnancies. WHAT: At its annual Pregnancy Meeting, SMFM will honor Olympic athlete Allyson Felix with an... Continue Reading

Intra-Uterine Fetal Blood Transfusion

When performing an intra-uterine fetal blood transfusion, there may be up to 4 appropriate codes to bill. Learn more in this month's SMFM Coding Tip. Continue Reading