Maternal Health in Crisis: Ensuring Nationwide Access to Maternity Care Providers

Nearly half of all U.S. counties lack a practicing OB-GYN, and the shortage is expected to grow, with projections showing as many as 8,800 fewer OB-GYNs practicing than will be needed in 2020. Maternity workforce shortages and maldistribution are of particular concern for the Medicaid program, which covers about half of all births in the U.S. Meanwhile, American women are dying from pregnancy-related complications at a higher rate than in any other developed country—a problem that’s exacerbated by limited access to providers.

This webinar, presented by the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP) and NIHCM Foundation with support from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, explored the following:

• The dynamics behind maternity workforce challenges, particularly in rural and other underserved areas
• An example of a public-private collaboration to connect Medicaid mothers-to-be with prenatal care and resources like transportation to doctor visits
• How financial incentives can be used to encourage medical professionals to specialize in maternal health and to work in underserved areas