Availability of Rural Hospitals Providing Inpatient Maternity Care in Medicaid - Takeaways - MDSpire
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Access to Inpatient Maternity Services in Rural Hospitals Participating in Medicaid

  • By

  • Rhiannon Euhus

  • Brittni Frederiksen

  • Alice Burns

  • August 26, 2026

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  • 1

    In 2023, 943 rural hospitals provided inpatient maternity care to Medicaid enrollees, accounting for 39% of all such hospitals nationwide.

  • 2

    The median travel time to the nearest in-state hospital for rural hospitals offering maternity care is 43 minutes, compared to 13 minutes for urban hospitals.

  • 3

    At least one hour separates the nearest in-state hospital providing maternity care from 1 in 4 rural hospitals serving Medicaid enrollees.

  • 4

    In 14 states, typical travel time from rural hospitals to the nearest in-state maternity care facility exceeds one hour.

  • 5

    Alaska, Nevada, and North Dakota have the longest typical driving times to the nearest hospital providing inpatient maternity care.

Original Source(s)

Availability of Rural Hospitals Providing Inpatient Maternity Care in Medicaid

  • by Rhiannon Euhus, Brittni Frederiksen, Alice Burns

  • August 26, 2026

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