Addressing the Rural Maternal Health Crisis

April 21, 2025

More than 100 rural hospitals nationwide have stopped (or have announced plans to stop) delivering babies since 2020, according to new data from the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform (CHQPR).

“Rural maternity care is in a state of crisis, and more women and babies in rural communities will die unnecessarily until the crisis is resolved,” the report said. “Federal and state government officials and private employers must take immediate action to ensure that all health insurance plans are paying adequately to support high-quality maternity care in every community.”

Here are some key takeaways from the report:

• Pennsylvania closures:  Four rural Pennsylvania labor and delivery units have closed since 2020, leaving just 38 percent of rural hospitals in the commonwealth with maternity services.
  • The median drive time from rural Pennsylvania hospitals without labor and delivery to a birthing hospital is 39 minutes.
• More services at risk:  Another 139 rural labor and delivery units, 14 percent nationally, are at risk of closing.
• Solutions:  The report emphasizes maternal health workforce development, flexible care models, and aligning Medicaid and commercial payments with the actual cost of providing care as key policy solutions.

HAP is focused on preserving and improving access to high-quality, equitable maternal health care in communities throughout the commonwealth, including addressing barriers to sustaining labor and delivery services in rural areas. During January, HAP released an Action Plan for Maternal Health with specific recommendations for hospitals and policymakers.

The CHQPR report is available online.