Bera, Morrison, Fletcher, Schrier Introduce Legislation to Expand Reproductive Healthcare Training for OB-GYN Residents

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representatives Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06), Kelly Morrison, M.D. (MN-03), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), and Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) introduced the SAFE Training for OB-GYNs Act, legislation to help ensure OB-GYN residents can receive comprehensive reproductive healthcare training regardless of where they complete their residency.

The legislation is being introduced on the fourth anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. Since the Dobbs decision ended nearly fifty years of federal constitutional protections for abortion access, abortion bans and restrictions enacted in states across the country have made it increasingly difficult for OB-GYN residents to receive comprehensive reproductive healthcare training. Many OB-GYN residents must now travel out of state to receive the training they need, creating new barriers for future physicians and contributing to shortages in the reproductive healthcare workforce.

The SAFE Training for OB-GYNs Act would establish a federal grant program to support approved graduate medical residency programs providing reproductive healthcare training and reimburse travel and related expenses for OB-GYN residents who must travel to another state to receive comprehensive reproductive healthcare training.

"As a doctor, I know that a strong healthcare workforce starts with strong medical training," said Congressman Ami Bera. "Since the Dobbs decision, abortion bans have made it harder for OB-GYN residents to receive the full reproductive health training required as part of their education. In many cases, these future physicians are being forced to travel to another state to gain the experience they need to provide comprehensive care to their patients. The SAFE Training for OB-GYNs Act helps ensure residents can complete that training by supporting graduate medical residency programs and covering the travel costs associated with it."

"Every OB-GYN in the country should be trained in every aspect of obstetric and gynecological care," said Congresswoman Kelly Morrison. "As the only pro-choice OB-GYN in Congress, I know how important it is for OB-GYNs to receive hands-on experience in providing abortion care. An abortion ban in even one state affects access to safe health care across the country. If doctors can't receive proper training, lives will inevitably be put at risk. This bill will make it safer and easier for women to get the care they need, and will ensure that future generations of doctors are able to care for all of their patients."

"In states like Texas where abortion is banned, OB-GYN residents cannot get the full training they need to care for their patients - and women across the country are paying the price," said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. "Restricted access to training is already driving a shortage of providers, making reproductive care harder to access even in states without bans. The SAFE Training for OB-GYNs Act gives residency programs the resources to train future OB-GYNs in the full range of reproductive healthcare their patients need and deserve. I am glad to join Congresswoman Morrison and Congressman Bera in this effort."

"Abortion training equips future ob-gyns with fundamental and life-saving procedural skills which are imperative to providing the full scope of ob-gyn care, including caring for patients experiencing pregnancy loss. Unfortunately, the Dobbs decision and resulting abortion bans have made it harder for OB-GYN residency programs to train residents in these critically important skills. ACOG is grateful to Rep. Kelly Morrison, MD, FACOG, for introducing the SAFE Training for OB-GYNs Act to ensure that all OB-GYN residents have access to the training they need to provide evidence-based care to our patients across the country," said President of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Camille A. Clare, MD, MPH, CPE.

"As physicians, we know that the lack of access to abortion training in medical school and residency harms the health and well-being of communities across the country. When abortion training is unavailable, full-spectrum pregnancy care is negatively impacted; whether a patient needs to end a pregnancy or is facing pregnancy loss, everyone should be able to get the care they need, where they live. Since Dobbs, we've seen a concerning decrease in care sites that are able to train physicians in care for pregnancy loss, and our communities are suffering as a result. We are thankful to Representative Morrison for advocating to protect and increase access to reproductive and sexual health care and abortion training." said CEO of Physicians for Reproductive Health Dr. Jamila Perritt.

"On the fourth anniversary of the Dobbs decision, people across the country have suffered and died as a result of restrictive anti-abortion laws that currently exist in 20 states. This decision has devastated patients' access to essential care and denied comprehensive medical training for the next generation of providers. We are grateful for Rep. Morrison's introduction of the SAFE Training for OBGYNs Act, important legislation to help address the barriers that are preventing future providers from getting the training they want and need to care for their patients," said Legislative Affairs Director of Planned Parenthood for America Nina Esperanza Serrianne.

"Abortion bans are forcing medical students and residents to seek training across state lines while worsening provider shortages in communities already struggling to care for patients. The SAFE Training for OB-GYNs Act will help ensure medical institutions can continue providing the clinical training needed to support the next generation of reproductive health care providers. We thank Congresswoman Morrison for her leadership on this bill," said Reproductive Freedom for All President and CEO Mini Timmaraju.

The legislation is endorsed by the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Physicians for Reproductive Health, Power to Decide, the Center for Reproductive Rights, the ACLU, Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equity, the Guttmacher Institute, Catholics for Choice, the National Partnership for Women & Families, the National Council of Jewish Women, Reproductive Freedom for All, the National Women's Law Center, and the National Abortion Federation.

Read the full text of the legislation here.