March of Dimes Says 34.6% of U.S. Counties Lack Maternity Care as Medicaid Cuts Loom
Updated
Updated · TIME · Aug 11
March of Dimes Says 34.6% of U.S. Counties Lack Maternity Care as Medicaid Cuts Loom
3 articles · Updated · TIME · Aug 11
Summary
34.6% of U.S. counties are maternity care deserts in 2026, the March of Dimes said, and more than half of counties lack a hospital with labor and delivery services—little changed from 2016.
57.9% of rural counties already have no practicing obstetric clinician, reflecting a model in which low birth volumes, round-the-clock staffing costs and weak Medicaid reimbursement make obstetric units financially hard to sustain.
H.R. 1, signed in July 2025, is expected to deepen the strain by cutting Medicaid payments and making coverage harder to keep; one 2022 study found Medicaid paid hospitals $8,732 less for childbirth than employer plans.
131 rural hospitals with labor and delivery units were already at risk of closure or severe cutbacks because of H.R. 1, a 2025 analysis found, while expiring ACA subsidies have also pushed more uninsured patients into emergency rooms.
By 2035, all but six states are projected to have an inadequate supply of obstetric clinicians, raising the risk of missed prenatal and postpartum care and delayed treatment in pregnancy emergencies.
If childbirth requires split-second medical intervention, how will communities survive the alarming disappearance of local delivery rooms?
As maternity deserts expand nationwide, could innovative regional networks and telehealth become the unexpected lifeline for rural mothers?
With hospitals rapidly closing maternity wards, what hidden financial triggers force expecting mothers to travel hours for life-saving care?
2.3 Million Women Left Without Local Maternity Care: The Human and Economic Toll of Medicaid Cuts and Hospital Closures
Overview
The 2026 healthcare crisis in the U.S. began with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which slashed Medicaid funding and imposed strict work requirements. This led to massive financial losses for community health centers and rural hospitals, forcing many to close their obstetric units. As a result, over a third of U.S. counties became maternity care deserts, leaving pregnant individuals—especially in rural areas—without nearby care. Many skipped prenatal visits due to travel barriers, increasing risks like preterm birth and maternal death. The crisis deepened as states restricted abortion, driving providers away and worsening shortages, while federal funding shifted to unregulated clinics, further endangering maternal health.