Maternal care in rural America is getting squeezed.
Accessing maternal health services can already be a challenge for mothers in rural areas. More than one-third of counties across the United States qualify as maternity care deserts, with shortages impacting 2 million women and roughly 150,000 babies annually.
Now, gaps in care could widen following cuts to federal funding. And the care shortages that result could worsen already high rates of complications during pregnancy and birth.
Medicaid Reductions Hit Rural Care
Rural hospitals rely heavily on Medicaid funding, particularly for maternity care. Nearly a quarter of women of childbearing age in rural areas are eligible, making Medicaid funding a core support for rural obstetric units. Those facilities are already closing at an alarming rate, and recent adjustments to the federal budget now endanger $900 billion in Medicaid funding.
Without intervention, communities will lose local labor and delivery services, forcing families to travel long distances for prenatal and postpartum care.
States Step in with New Strategies
Amid uncertainty about federal funding, state-level leaders have begun efforts to stabilize maternal health services in underserved areas. Revisions to payment strategies, expanded public-private partnerships and innovative care delivery are all on the table.
One new source of funding might be the Rural Health Transformation Program, which earmarked $10 billion annually for the pursuit of five strategic goals:
- Create a healthier rural America
- Ensure sustainable access
- Support workforce development
- Encourage innovative care
- Spur technology innovation
Half of the funding is distributed evenly across all states. The remainder will be distributed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to states based on their concentration of rural communities and their policy commitments to improving care.
The program offers states the opportunity to redesign maternal health services, even as Medicaid revenue streams tighten. The coming years will test whether innovation can keep pace with rising demand and shrinking margins. It is critical that policymakers prioritize this to ensure people get the care they need.
