https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/topics/maternal-health-workforce Rural Health & Human Services News by Topic: Maternal health workforce - Rural Health Information Hub en Copyright 2026 Rural Health Information Hub https://ncnewsline.com/2026/03/10/nc-has-plenty-of-doctors-and-nurses-to-deliver-babies-but-rural-counties-still-go-without/ Describes the maternal healthcare workforce distribution in North Carolina and health disparities for rural residents where there are workforce shortages. Notes that recent policy measures aiming to increase rural access with certified nurse midwives has not fully addressed the shortage. Discusses the potential for doulas to fill the gap. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38330 Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://theconversation.com/mobile-clinics-offer-a-practical-way-to-improve-health-care-access-in-maternity-care-deserts-274476 Promotes mobile clinics as a delivery model for effective maternal health outreach in rural and other communities. Highlights maternity care deserts nationally and in Florida. Discusses successful use of the model in Florida for maternity care, noting that few of the nationally tracked mobile clinics offer maternal and infant healthcare. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38327 Mon, 09 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.northcarolinahealthnews.org/2026/03/06/chatham-hospital-shows-one-way-to-restore-rural-maternity-care/ Profiles a labor and delivery department in a rural North Carolina Critical Access Hospital. Maternity services were re-started in 2020 using family physicians after closing the department in 1991. Describes maternity care access across North Carolina, challenges with sustaining the service for rural communities, and how they can be a model to other rural communities. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38314 Fri, 06 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0600 https://den.mercer.edu/school-of-medicine-receives-over-600000-to-continue-fighting-opioid-epidemic/ The Georgia Opioid Crisis Abatement Trust has awarded more than $600,000 to research and prevention projects at Mercer University School of Medicine. The projects address substance use in Georgia and emphasize prevention, treatment, and impact in rural communities most affected by the opioid epidemic. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38245 Wed, 11 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0600 https://vitalrecord.tamu.edu/special-delivery-aggies-work-to-support-obstetrics-in-rural-communities/ The Texas Legislature has provided funding through the Rural Engagement Program for Texas A&M Health to develop a practical program to train emergency room personnel to treat expectant mothers in rural Texas. The multidisciplinary training is designed for staff who may be the first to respond to an obstetric emergency. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38233 Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0600 https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/03/2026-02130/request-for-public-comment-on-the-updated-criteria-for-determining-maternity-care-health Notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) seeking comments on proposed updates to the criteria for determining Maternity Care Target Areas (MCTAs), geographic areas within Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) that have a shortage of maternity care health professionals. Comments are due by March 5, 2026. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38212 Tue, 03 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0600 https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/29/2026-01803/modifications-to-the-reimbursement-of-childbirth-support-services-under-the-tricare-childbirth-and Notice from the Department of Defense (DOD) Director of the Defense Health Agency (DHA) announcing adjustments to the certified labor doulas (CLDs) performing childbirth support services under the Childbirth and Breastfeeding Support Demonstration (CBSD). This notice announces changes to the reimbursement methodology for childbirth support services intended to stabilize reimbursement. DHA is modifying reimbursement for childbirth support services so that the rate approved for March 1, 2025, will be considered a "baseline." The DHA Director will approve a new baseline if it is found that TRICARE reimbursement is not keeping pace with Medicaid reimbursement. The new reimbursement methodology will be effective for rates beginning March 1, 2026. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38201 Thu, 29 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0600 https://pennsylvaniaindependent.com/uncategorized/maternal-health-care-deserts-rural-hospitals-physicians-obgyn-midwives-childbirth/ Discusses reasons for labor and delivery department closures across Pennsylvania including challenges with recruiting and retaining obstetricians and gynecologists and low reimbursement rates for Medicare and Medicaid. Also notes poor health outcomes associated with maternal healthcare deserts. Describes potential solutions including increasing access to and the scope of practice for nurse midwives and certified midwives https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/news/38168 Tue, 13 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0600