Healthy Moms, Thriving Futures: Protect Access to Maternal Health Care

 

There is a maternal health crisis in Pennsylvania. Maternal health deserts—places where there are low to no birthing services—are growing. Shrinking access to obstetric care has led to growing rates of maternal mortality and morbidity. Trends are even more disturbing for people of color and in our rural communities, who are at a higher risk of dying during or after pregnancy.

We believe that moms and babies deserve to thrive. That is why we advocate for policies that expand access to prenatal and postpartum health care.

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A healthy mom giving birth to a healthy baby is a great first step to having a healthy life, a healthy patient population, and a healthy group of people.

Dr. Jaimey Pauli

Obstetrics and Gynecology, Penn State Health

Key Stats

There are more than 131,000 births annually in Pennsylvania

%

Almost 50% of women in rural counties live more than 30 minutes from a hospital

%

There has been a 40% increase in severe pregnancy complications since 2016

Black mothers are 3 times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white mothers

Why is There a Maternal Health Crisis in Pennsylvania?

19 Pennsylvania counties are currently designated as low-access or maternity care deserts.

  • Shortage of medical providers: There aren’t enough doctors and midwives to meet the demand, particularly in rural areas of the state. High risks and expensive medical malpractice insurance make it less appealing to specialize in maternal health.
  • Closures of birthing facilities: Health care providers struggle with financial challenges and low reimbursement rates from insurers, forcing them to reduce or close birthing services
  • Mental health and substance use disorders: Both causes and contributors to prenatal and postpartum deaths, more than 1.7 million Pennsylvanians live in communities that do not have enough behavioral health professionals.
  • Health inequities: Decreased access to obstetric care has led to alarming racial and geographical health inequities

If we do not act now, moms and babies will continue to lose access to essential maternal health care. The consequences are frightening: Birthing facilities will continue to close, maternity deserts will expand, mothers will be forced to travel long distances for prenatal care, delivery, and postpartum support.

We cannot let this happen.