Study examines decline of obstetric services in rural and urban hospitals

A Health Affairs study on the decline of obstetric services in rural and urban hospitals nationwide from 2010-2022 found that seven states had at least 25% of their hospitals report they are no longer providing obstetric services. Additionally, by 2022, more than two-thirds of rural hospitals in eight states were without obstetric services.

In five states, 25% or more of their urban hospitals no longer reported providing obstetric services by 2022, but this was more pronounced in rural areas, with a total of 12 states experiencing 25% or more losses of obstetric services in rural hospitals. The study examined AHA survey data as well as information from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Provider of Services files.