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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Maternal health and prenatal care

Jun 28, 2024 - Washington Senator Maria Cantwell cosponsored legislation aiming to increase rural hospitals' reimbursements through Medicaid, in order to help keep maternity wards open in rural Washington communities. The legislation would give rural hospitals and hospitals with a high percentage of births among Medicaid patients a 150% Medicaid reimbursement rate.
Source: Northwest Public Broadcasting
Jun 26, 2024 - Highlights efforts by the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta to expand access to doula services for Black women in rural Georgia. Describes doula services including education, health system navigation, emotional support, and resource referrals. Discusses funding challenges and efforts to make doula services reimbursable by Medicaid in Georgia.
Source: WABE
Jun 20, 2024 - Highlights proposed legislation in Virginia and nationally to recruit obstetric and gynecology physicians and increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for labor and delivery services.
Source: Virginia Mercury
Jun 18, 2024 - Discusses how new funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will be used to expand the rural OBGYN residency track at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health. Explores factors contributing to recent closures of rural Wisconsin obstetrics services, including provider shortages, low volume of deliveries, and declining local birth rates.
Source: Wisconsin Public Radio
Jun 18, 2024 - Outlines the role of Community Health Centers in expanding access to women's healthcare services in rural and other underserved areas of Tennessee. Notes that health centers offer services regardless of insurance status or the patient's ability to pay. Describes the services offered by two community health centers, including prenatal care, midwifery, delivery, and social services.
Source: Public News Service
Jun 14, 2024 - Call for nominations for a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Technical Expert Panel (TEP) for the expansion of both the Maternal Morbidity Structural Measure (MMSM) and the Birthing-Friendly Hospital Designation. Ideal TEP nominees include clinical experts, obstetrical/gynecologic department chairs, hospital administrators, perinatal quality improvement experts, health equity and birth justice experts, statistical and performance measurement experts, and consumer/patient/family caregiver experts. Nominations can be submitted until July 12th.
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Jun 13, 2024 - Announces the awarding of over $11 million to 15 organizations to establish new rural residency programs. The programs will increase rural training opportunities for obstetrics and gynecology. Also discusses previous funding for rural healthcare.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Jun 4, 2024 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on the following information collections: 1) Examination and Treatment for Emergency Medical Conditions and Women in Labor (EMTALA) and 2) Rate Increase Disclosure and Review Requirements (45 CFR part 154). Comments are due by August 5, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 3, 2024 - Announcement from the Health Resources and Services Administration of $15 million awarded through the Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies (Rural MOMS) Program, with a goal of improving maternal health in rural communities. Also notes an additional $7 million to be awarded over the next four years to the Delta Region Maternal Care Coordination Program, which is designed to improve access and coordination of maternal healthcare services in the Delta Region before, during, and after pregnancy.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
May 31, 2024 - The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will hold a public meeting of the Advisory Committee on Infant and Maternal Mortality (ACIMM) on June 26-27, 2024. Agenda items are being finalized but may include an update on the federal Healthy Start program; Committee discussions on the workgroup topics of rural healthcare access, social drivers of health, and women's health before/between pregnancies; federal updates; and possible recommendations to achieve optimal maternal health and overall birth outcomes for underserved populations, including Black/African-American families. The webinar link and log-in information will be available at the ACIMM website before the meeting. Requests for public comment should be sent via email to SACIM@hrsa.gov.
Source: Federal Register