Rural Health Information Hub Latest News

A New Site Explains Access to Reproductive Health Care

 A recent ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court changes federal protections for reproductive health care services to a decision made at the state level.  To help patients and providers better understand quickly changing policies, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services created a site to explain access to care for those with and without insurance coverage.  Research has shown rural-urban disparities in unintended pregnancies as well as an ongoing decline in obstetric services in rural areas.

The National Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis Can Be Found Here!

  Investment in rural maternal care is a featured priority of the new all-of-government approach to high rates of maternal mortality across the United States.  The plan announced last week stresses more staff and capabilities for rural obstetrics and increased funding of the HRSA/FORHP-supported Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies Program.  A 2019 study from the Rural Health Research Gateway found a greater number of potentially life-threatening complications with childbirth in rural areas.