Access to Inpatient Maternity Services in Rural Hospitals Participating in Medicaid
By
Rhiannon Euhus
Brittni Frederiksen
Alice Burns
August 26, 2026
Clinical Scorecard: Access to Inpatient Maternity Services in Rural Hospitals Participating in Medicaid
At a Glance
Category Detail
Condition Inpatient Maternity Care Access Key Mechanisms Medicaid financing, rural hospital closures, provider recruitment challenges Target Population Medicaid enrollees in rural areas Care Setting Rural hospitals providing inpatient maternity care
Key Highlights
39% of hospitals providing inpatient maternity care to Medicaid enrollees are rural hospitals. Median travel time to the closest in-state hospital for rural hospitals is 43 minutes. At least one hour separates the nearest in-state hospital from 1 in 4 rural hospitals. 14 states have typical travel times of at least one hour from rural hospitals to the nearest in-state maternity care facility. Alaska, Nevada, and North Dakota have the longest typical driving times. Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Management
Monitoring & Follow-up
Risks
Limited access to maternity care can lead to adverse health outcomes such as low birthweight and higher maternal mortality. Patient & Prescribing Data
Rural women of reproductive age covered by Medicaid
Medicaid covers nearly half of births in rural communities.
Clinical Best Practices
Monitor the impact of Medicaid reimbursement rates on rural maternity care access. Assess travel times to ensure timely access to maternity services for Medicaid enrollees. Related Resources & Content
