Da Struggle fo’ Maternity Care: Expectant Mamas Gotta Hit Da Road 🤰🚗💔
Leandra Wright, a 40-year-old mama pregnant wit’ her seventh keiki, stay facin’ one tough situation in Bonner County, Idaho. Da hospital where she planned to give birth stay closin’ down da labor an’ delivery services in May. Now, she stay goin’ need fo’ drive 45 minutes to anotha hospital fo’ give birth. Dis stay not one easy task, especially since Wright’s labors stay fast an’ she stay experienced complications in da past. Dis stay one common problem, as many maternity units across da United States stay closin’ down, leaving expectant mamas in rural areas wit’ limited options. 😔
Since 2011, 217 hospitals across da United States stay closed down deir labor an’ delivery departments, according to one report by da health care consulting firm Chartis. Some hospitals still offer perinatal care, but wit’ da closure of labor an’ delivery services, many expectant mamas gotta travel far from home to give birth. Dis stay puttin’ deir lives and da lives of deir babies at risk, especially fo’ those who have experienced complications in da past.
Money stay one major reason why maternity units stay closin’ down. Medicaid, which pays fo’ about 42% of births in da United States, has low reimbursement rates. Employa-sponsored insurance pays about $15,000 fo’ one delivery, while Medicaid pays only about $6,500, according to da Health Care Cost Institute. Rural areas, in particular, have been hit hard by dis problem, as dey have less generous Medicaid programs.🏥💸
Rural hospitals also stay strugglin’ due to low birth rates. Da hospital where Wright planned to give birth, Bonner General Health, only delivered 265 babies in 2022, which dey considered one significant decrease. Many rural hospital administrators say dey need at least 200 births annually fo’ keep da unit financially viable and safe fo’ patients.
Da closure of maternity units stay creatin’ “maternity care deserts,” areas where expectant mamas have no access to hospitals or providers offering obstetric care or birth centers. According to data released last fall by da infant an’ maternal health nonprofit March of Dimes, more than 2.2 million women of childbearing age across 1,119 US counties live in these deserts. Maternity care deserts stay linked to a lack of adequate prenatal care or treatment for pregnancy complications, which can increase da risk of maternal death fo’ a year after giving birth.🤱👶
Da situation stay especially dire fo’ expectant mamas in rural areas, where hospitals are often unable to offset low reimbursement rates from Medicaid births. Many rural hospitals do not have neonatal intensive care units, which can be one substantial revenue generator fo’ larger hospitals.
As expectant mamas continue to face limited options fo’ maternity care, experts say it stay important fo’ policymakers to address dis issue an’ provide adequate support to rural hospitals. Without action, da closure of maternity units stay likely to continue, puttin’ da lives of expectant mamas and deir babies at risk. 🏥💔
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The struggle for maternity care: Expectant mothers have to hit the road 🤰🚗💔
Leandra Wright, a 40-year-old mother pregnant with her seventh child, is facing a tough situation in Bonner County, Idaho. The hospital where she planned to give birth is closing down the labor and delivery services in May. Now, she needs to drive 45 minutes to another hospital to give birth. This is not an easy task, especially since Wright’s labors are fast, and she experienced complications in the past. This is a common problem as many maternity units across the United States are closing down, leaving expectant mothers in rural areas with limited options. 😔
Since 2011, 217 hospitals across the United States have closed down their labor and delivery departments, according to a report by the health care consulting firm Chartis. Some hospitals still offer perinatal care, but with the closure of labor and delivery services, many expectant mothers have to travel far from home to give birth. This is putting their lives and the lives of their babies at risk, especially for those who have experienced complications in the past.
Money is a major reason why maternity units are closing down. Medicaid, which pays for about 42% of births in the United States, has low reimbursement rates. Employer-sponsored insurance pays about $15,000 for one delivery, while Medicaid pays only about $6,500, according to the Health Care Cost Institute. Rural areas, in particular, have been hit hard by this problem, as they have less generous Medicaid programs.🏥💸
Rural hospitals are also struggling due to low birth rates. The hospital where Wright planned to give birth, Bonner General Health, only delivered 265 babies in 2022, which they considered a significant decrease. Many rural hospital administrators say they need at least 200 births annually to keep the unit financially viable and safe for patients.
The closure of maternity units is creating “maternity care deserts,” areas where expectant mothers have no access to hospitals or providers offering obstetric care or birth centers. According to data released last fall by the infant and maternal health nonprofit March of Dimes, more than 2.2 million women of childbearing age across 1,119 US counties live in these deserts. Maternity care deserts are linked to a lack of adequate prenatal care or treatment for pregnancy complications, which can increase the risk of maternal death for a year after giving birth.🤱👶
The situation is especially dire for expectant mothers in rural areas, where hospitals are often unable to offset low reimbursement rates from Medicaid births. Many rural hospitals do not have neonatal intensive care units, which can be a substantial revenue generator for larger hospitals.
As expectant mothers continue to face limited options for maternity care, experts say it is important for policymakers to address this issue and provide adequate support to rural hospitals. Without action, the closure of maternity units is likely to continue, putting the lives of expectant mothers and their babies at risk. 🏥💔
