Rural communities in North Carolina are facing a crisis in women’s health care services, particularly in access to maternity care. Small, remote hospitals are struggling to afford to keep delivering babies and providing critical OB/GYN services, leading to closures and reductions in services. To address this issue, stronger accountability, incentives, and support are needed for rural hospitals and health care professionals.
Proposed solutions include implementing standards for levels of maternal care, similar to neonatal care standards, as well as enhanced data collection and accountability measures. Financial solutions, such as increased Medicaid reimbursement rates and payment reforms, could encourage hospitals to sustain services. Workforce solutions are also crucial, including incentives for specialists to work in rural areas and training programs for healthcare professionals in rural communities.
North Carolina policymakers are considering these solutions, but progress is hindered by proposed cuts to Medicaid and the need for a measured approach to regulation. By implementing regulatory and incentive shifts, the state could potentially see a recovery of rural women’s health care services and create a new narrative for health care in rural North Carolina. Ultimately, these changes could save the lives of women and children across the state.
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