Courage Is the New Currency: Why Physician Advocacy Matters More Than Ever

Early last month, I went to a conference.  

I walked into my hotel in Washington, DC just before midnight.

After two delayed flights.
I was losing an hour to daylight savings.
And a part of me was questioning why I had signed up for this trip in the first place.

And yet, by the time I left, I felt the same way I do every year after attending the Congressional Leadership Conference with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists:

Re-energized.
Reconnected.
And reminded that physicians still have a voice.

This was my 10th year attending ACOG’s Congressional Leadership Conference (CLC), and this year, one message rose above everything else:

Courage is the new currency.

What Is ACOG’s Congressional Leadership Conference?

Each year, hundreds of OB-GYNs from across the country travel to Washington, DC to advocate for patients and for the future of healthcare.

This year, nearly 800 physicians were in attendance, and about half were there for the first time.

Even more encouraging—about three-quarters were “Junior Fellows,” meaning residents and early-career physicians.

Which meant that many of us who’ve been attending for years found ourselves guiding the next generation—helping them navigate Capitol Hill, understand the issues, and step into advocacy roles.

And what I saw in those young physicians gave me a lot of hope.

They were prepared.
They were thoughtful.
And they were ready to lead.

“Courage Is the New Currency”

One of the most impactful moments of the conference was a talk from Skye Perryman, former ACOG general counsel and current leader of Democracy Forward.

Her message was simple—and powerful:

“Courage is the new currency.”

She shared that in 2021, the United States was added to a list of backsliding democracies, and that trend has continued—and even accelerated.

And when you look historically at other countries that have gone through similar periods, one thing becomes very clear:

No sector has ever been protected by keeping their head down.

And no sector has been protected by capitulating to administration demands.

That includes medicine.

Why Physician Advocacy Matters

It can be tempting, especially in a time of burnout and overwhelm, to focus only on clinical work.

To take care of your patients.
To get through your day.
To avoid the larger conversations happening around you.

But healthcare does not exist in a vacuum.

Policies shape:

• How patients access care
• What physicians are paid
• What treatments are approved or delayed
• And ultimately, patient outcomes

Which means physician advocacy isn’t optional.

It’s part of the job.

Key Healthcare Policy Issues Affecting OB-GYNs

At this year’s conference, we advocated for several important issues that directly impact both patients and physicians.

1. Reducing the Cost of Pregnancy Care

Currently, patients with private insurance pay an average of $2,700 out of pocket for prenatal care and delivery.

Sometimes more—especially if their pregnancy spans two calendar years and they have to meet two deductibles.

The proposed Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act aims to eliminate cost-sharing for maternity care.

This would:

• Improve access to prenatal care
• Reduce financial stress for patients
• Simplify administrative burden for physician practices

2. Prior Authorization Reform

We also advocated for reforms to prior authorization in Medicare Advantage plans.

While OB-GYNs may not think of Medicare as a large part of their patient population, this issue still matters.

Because:

• Subspecialists like GYN oncologists and urogynecologists are directly impacted
• Advocacy is often collaborative across specialties
• And changes in Medicare policy often influence the broader insurance landscape

3. Changes to OB Payment Models (Global Billing Unbundling)

One of the most talked-about topics was the upcoming unbundling of obstetric global billing in 2027.

Currently, OB care is paid as a single global fee—regardless of complexity.

Which means:

• A quick, uncomplicated delivery
• And a prolonged, high-risk induction ending in cesarean

Are reimbursed the same way.

The new model would:

• Bill prenatal visits individually
• Introduce separate payments for labor management and delivery

If implemented correctly, this could lead to more equitable compensation for OB-GYNs—and potentially help address burnout and workforce shortages.

The Role of Courage in Medicine Today

One of the most important takeaways from this conference wasn’t just policy-related.

It was personal.

Because courage in medicine doesn’t always look like something dramatic.

It often looks like:

• Speaking up in a meeting
• Advocating for your patients
• Questioning a system that isn’t working
• Or choosing not to stay silent

And in a time when it feels easier to disengage…

Courage becomes even more important.

A Reminder for Burned Out Physicians

If you’ve been feeling disconnected from your work…

If you’ve been questioning whether what you do still matters…

I want you to hear this:

Your voice still matters.

Not just in the exam room.
But in the systems that shape the care you provide.

Final Thoughts: Where Is Courage Being Asked of You?

As I traveled home—late again, after a long day—I kept coming back to that same idea:

Courage is the new currency.

Not certainty.
Not perfection.

Courage.

So I’ll leave you with this:

Where is courage being asked of you right now?

And what might it look like to answer that call—just a little differently than you have before?