:focal(0x0:5423x3615)/static.texastribune.org/media/files/afeb0603c6fec36ca058ff15fe6adf8d/Chloe%20Riley%20AM%2015.jpg "Rural Texas Faces Maternity Care Crisis: Action Needed to Save Lives")
Saving Rural Births: A Call for Action
Nearly half of Texas counties lack any maternity care services, forcing expectant mothers to travel long distances or risk delivering without adequate medical support. This dire situation is fueling a nascent movement to sound the alarm and preserve rural maternity care before it vanishes entirely.
Twenty-five years ago, Texas lawmakers made a bold move, enacting sweeping reforms to revitalize a crumbling rural health care system. Now, experts warn that the maternal health care crisis in rural Texas demands similarly decisive action.
The Rural Texas Maternal Health Rescue Plan is a bold blueprint outlining potential solutions. Led by the Texas A&M Rural and Community Health Institute, a coalition of over 40 groups representing hospitals, medical professionals and advocacy organizations collaborated to produce the plan.
A Bleak Reality
The State of Maternal Care
Living in a “maternity care desert” translates into delayed prenatal care, increased risks during pregnancy and poorer birth outcomes. Women in rural areas face a disproportionately higher risk of pregnancy-related complications and infant mortality—a sobering reality that must change.
“We’re reaching a tipping point where people are frequently more than an hour from routine prenatal care, and more than an hour from a delivering hospital when their water breaks,” expressed John Henderson, president of the Texas Organization of Rural and Community Hospitals. “This isn’t sustainable. Without accessing quality care, we can’t achieve the health outcomes we strive for in our state.”
Compounding this crisis, more rural hospitals are shuttering their labor and delivery units, forcing expectant mothers to endure long drives to access care.
A Multi-Pronged Solution
The Rescue Plan identifies key interim steps that Texas lawmakers can take:
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Contrary to popular belief, today’s rural medical care crisis requires more than popular solutions.
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Increase Medicaid payment rates to more accurately reflect the true cost of providing maternal care in rural regions. This would incentivize hospitals to maintain these desperately needed services.
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Expand access to Addresses acritical shortage of healthcare professionals in rural Texas, particularly maternal care providers. This translates to limited access to Prenatal care and specialized childbirth services. The plan emphasizes the urgent need to bolster funding for loan repayment programs.
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Strengthen loan repayment programs for Ob-Gyns, family physicians, and other healthcare providers who choose to practice in rural Texas.
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Invest in creating more opportunities for medical students and residents to gain experience in rural settings, ensuring a future pipeline of healthcare professionals committed to rural areas.
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*Allocate funds to mobile clinics and expand the reach of federally qualified health centers. These vital safety net clinics provide essential care to un- and under-insured Texans after hurricanes and other natural disasters.
."Beyond Medicaid payments, there are several other crucial steps:
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Simplifying the process for pregnant women to enroll in Medicaid.
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Making it easier for doctors to accept Medicaid, since bureaucratic hurdles often deter participation.
- Shoring up texas, addressing the health ON A broader Scale This includes supporting programs geared toward achieving preconception and post-pregnancy, such as Healthy Texas Women, the Family Planning Program, and the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program, improving inpatient care.
Bipartisan Support is Crucial
In a political climate more often characterized by divided opinions on school choice, immigration, and property taxes, healthcare seeks doors are showing widespread, bipartisan support.
Proponents of this plan will be directly engaging Texas legislators during –in which.
They will underscore that
What policy recommendations are being made to address the issue of maternity care deserts in rural Texas?
## Saving Rural Births: A Conversation with John Henderson
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Today, we’re discussing a critical issue facing Texan families: the growing crisis of maternal healthcare in rural areas. Joining us is John Henderson, president of the Texas Organization of Rural and Community Hospitals. John, thank you for being here.
**John Henderson:** Thank you for having me. This is a crucial conversation that needs more attention.
**Host:** Indeed. Our research shows that almost half of Texas counties lack any maternity care services, forcing many women to travel long distances just to receive basic care. What are the consequences of this “maternity care desert”?
**John Henderson:** The consequences are dire. [1] We’re seeing delayed prenatal care, increased risks during pregnancy, and poorer birth outcomes. Women in these rural areas face a much higher risk of complications during pregnancy and infant mortality. It’s simply not sustainable.
**Host:** So, what can be done? There’s a new plan called the Rural Texas Maternal Health Rescue Plan that offers some solutions. Can you tell us more about it?
**John Henderson:** Absolutely. This plan was developed by a coalition of over 40 groups, including hospitals, medical professionals, and advocacy organizations, led by the Texas A&M Rural and Community Health Institute. It outlines several key steps Texas lawmakers can take immediately to address this crisis.
**Host:** Such as?
**John Henderson:** First, acknowledging that this is a complex issue requiring more than simple solutions. We need targeted interventions.
Secondly, we need to address the financial burden rural hospitals face. [1] Increasing Medicaid payment rates to reflect the true cost of providing maternal care in these regions would incentivize hospitals to maintain these vital services.
**Host:** And third?
**John Henderson:** We need to address the critical shortage of healthcare professionals, especially those specializing in maternal care. This shortage directly limits access to prenatal care and specialized childbirth services.
**Host:** Powerful points, John. It’s clear that this is a multifaceted problem needing urgent attention.
**John Henderson:** Absolutely. The health and well-being of mothers and babies in rural Texas depend on it.
**Host:** Thank you, John, for shedding light on this critical issue and offering solutions. We hope our viewers will join the conversation and advocate for action.