Rural America’s Maternal-Health Crisis Is About to Get Much Worse

Rural America faces a worsening maternal-health crisis as 109 rural hospitals have closed since 2005, with 60% of rural counties lacking hospital-based obstetric care. Maternal mortality rates in rural areas are 81% higher than in urban areas, driven by hospital closures, lower Medicaid reimbursement rates, and a shortage of OB-GYNs willing to practice in rural regions.