Reproductive Health / Public News Service

A new study calls on the state to relax certain non-safety-related building codes to make it easier for birth centers to comply. (Kindred Space L.A.)

Thursday, May 22, 2025

New CA bill would make birth centers available to more low-income families

California lawmakers are considering a bill to ease regulations on birth centers at a time when maternity wards are closing in many counties…

Medicaid covers more births in rural areas than metro ones, at 47% and 40% respectively, according to a new report from the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. (Oleg Breslavtsev/Adobe Stock)

Thursday, May 22, 2025

Three Montana counties top U.S. list for moms’ reliance on Medicaid

Montana mothers and could-be moms rely more on Medicaid than in other states, and would be harder hit by proposed cuts to the program. More than 30%…

For rural hospitals that are able to stay afloat, the report notes a decline in obstetrical services. (Misha/Adobe Stock)

Thursday, May 22, 2025

Report: Rural OR depends on Medicaid to cover childbirth

Oregon is one of the top ten states with the highest share of women of childbearing age covered by Medicaid in rural areas. That's according to a new …

Medicaid covered more than 40% of births nationwide and nearly half of all births in rural areas, in 2023. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Report: Medicaid cuts would affect AZ rural maternity care

President Donald Trump is urging some of his colleagues to "not mess with Medicaid," even as hard-liners call for steeper cuts to the health care prog…

The Medicaid safety net program covers more than 70 million low-income and disabled Americans. (Singh/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

NM's outsized reliance on Medicaid has advocates prepping for worst-case

Unprecedented cuts to Medicaid under consideration by lawmakers in Congress would be a heavy blow to New Mexico, where more than one-third of the …

Women of childbearing age make up nearly 20% of Alaska's population. Many live in areas not accessible by road, leaving them vulnerable to a loss of critical medical care under proposed cuts to federal social service programs, such as Medicaid. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Report: Medicaid cuts would hobble rural Alaska health care

Proposed cuts to Medicaid would put hospitals in jeopardy in rural states, where health care services are already scarce, according to new research …

On average, more than 23% of rural women of childbearing age receive health care coverage through Medicaid. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Report: Rural women of childbearing age more often rely on Medicaid

A new report found women of childbearing age in rural areas rely more on Medicaid for health care coverage than their urban counterparts and cuts to M…

A report from the Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University showed 23.3% of women of childbearing age in rural areas are covered by Medicaid. (pressmaster/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

TX health care advocates say changes to Medicaid could affect expectant mothers

As members of Congress debate changes to Medicaid, advocates in Texas who work with people covered by the plan are concerned about potential …

Nationally, more than 23% of women of childbearing age in rural areas are covered by Medicaid, compared to 20.5% of women in metro areas. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Medicaid cuts could restrict access to rural Utah maternity care

Congressional leaders are looking at major cuts to Medicaid and health care advocates said the proposed changes would be keenly felt by rural Utahns w…

On average, women who live in rural Illinois will travel more than 17 miles for care. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Report: Medicaid cuts risk maternity care for rural Illinois

In Illinois, more than one in five rural women of childbearing age rely on Medicaid for health coverage, according to the Georgetown University …

In 2022, the infant mortality rate in the United States was 5.6 deaths per 1,000 live births, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Report: Kentucky among highest in nation for rural women on Medicaid

Congress is considering a proposal to slash $880 billion in Medicaid funding and experts said the cuts would be devastating for maternal and infant he…

According to a report from the Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University, labor and delivery is the top reason for a hospital stay nationwide. (Rido/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Report: Proposed Medicaid changes could hurt AR expectant mothers

Changes to Medicaid being proposed by members of Congress could have a significant effect on women in Arkansas who are of childbearing age, according …

Last week, patients, providers and advocates rallied against Medicaid cuts in front of Dignity Health Mercy Hospital in Folsom, Calif. (CCHI)

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Advocates warn proposed Medi-Cal cuts could harm rural maternity care

The Republican-controlled House of Representatives is hashing out last-minute details of a huge funding bill which could come to a floor vote this wee…

Experts: Medicaid cuts could worsen WV’s maternal mortality rate

Congress is considering a proposal to slash $880 billion in Medicaid funding and experts warn the cuts would be devastating for West Virginia women…

The Georgetown University Center for Children and Families says 20 counties nationwide have approximately half of women of child-bearing age covered by Medicaid. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Nearly a quarter of rural pregnant women in MN rely on Medicaid

Minnesota is in the top half of states when linking Medicaid coverage with needs for maternal care in rural areas. That's according to a new report …

Some patients in rural Louisiana live 45 minutes to an hour away from the nearest hospital with an obstetrics department, a long way to drive in an emergency situation. (Adobe Stock/AI)

Expert: Medicaid cuts could cripple health care in rural Louisiana

As Congress debates the federal budget, House Republicans are looking to make deep cuts in the Medicaid program, which some experts warn could …

Since 2023, the caucus has secured more than $200 million in new Momnibus and maternal-health funding through the federal budget process. That money is now reaching community groups, universities, health providers and researchers nationwide. (Rido/Adobe Stock)

Black maternal health remains focus of PA lawmakers

CORRECTION: State Reps. Morgan Cephas and Gina Curry are both members of the Democratic Party. A previous version of this story incorrectly …

Title X is the only federal program providing family planning and preventive health services, including contraception, cancer screenings and STI testing. (Studio Romantic/Adobe Stock)

Survey: Many Missourians fear birth control access will decline

A recent poll shows widespread concern among Missourians about the future of birth control access. The survey from the Right Time Initiative reveals …

The U.S. has one of the highest maternal mortality and morbidity rates in the developed world, with more than 50,000 women experience life-threatening complications due to labor and delivery each year. (Adobe Stock)

Maternal death outcomes drop, except for Black women

Today marks the last day of Black Maternal Health Week, a nationally and internationally recognized observance that serves to build community …

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) weakens the heart muscle, making it harder for the heart to pump blood effectively. (Prostock-studio/Adobe Stock)

Missouri mom shares heart failure survival story

Black Maternal Health Week runs through April 17th, and according to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the leading cause of maternal …

Residents of rural counties with a large share of tribal lands are more likely to rely on Medicaid for coverage for all age groups, including seniors, according to the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. (Nailotl/Adobe Stock)

Federal budget cuts to Medicaid would significantly impact New Mexico

Nearly 800,000 people receiving Medicaid live in New Mexico, and a federal budget proposal could possibly cause major cuts to the program. Senate …

More than 57% of Black women of reproductive age live in states with abortion bans or impending bans, according to polling by In Our Own Voice. (Adobe Stock)

Reproductive justice takes more than passing laws in Ohio, U.S.

By Jade Prévost-Manuel for Yes! Media.Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi for Ohio News Connection reporting for the Yes! Media-Public News …

Cuts to Medicaid are one way Congress could pay for extending tax cuts passed in 2017. It is estimated two-thirds of the benefits of the extension would go to the wealthiest 20% of Americans. (Adobe Stock)

Cuts to Medicaid would affect one in five Coloradans

To pay for the priorities of President Donald Trump's administration, like mass deportations and tax cuts, Republicans in Congress are considering …

House Majority Whip Jason Nemes, R-Middletown, presents House Bill 90, which was amended to make changes in Kentucky's abortion law, March 13, 2025. (LRC Public Information)

KY doctors: GOP lawmakers’ attempt to clarify abortion ban confuses instead

With a few days left in the 2025 legislative session, Republican lawmakers pushed through a bill they say should reassure doctors they can rely on …

According to the Doula Advisory Group, as of February, 87 of Ohio's 88 counties had no doulas certified under the state's new program. (Adobe Stock)

Doula access in Ohio at risk in Nursing Board certification controversy

Tensions are rising in Ohio between doulas and the state Board of Nursing, as only a small number of doulas have been able to be certified for …

Changes to Arkansas' abortion ban clarifies doctors acting in good faith would not be prosecuted for saving the life of a pregnant person. (Sikov/Adobe Stock)

New findings: Arkansas abortion ban could impact potential workforce

As members of the Arkansas Legislature debate changing the wording in the state's abortion ban, a new study showed states with strict abortion laws …

According to a new national report, businesses are responding to a patchwork of abortion bans across the country, with some offering relocation assistance and expanded benefits amid a backlash against tighter restrictions. (Adobe Stock)

New findings: State workforces suffer when abortion restrictions tighten

The 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn federal abortion protections continues to be felt. New research now suggests states where bans have …

According to the Ohio Attorney General's office, there are 119 people on death row in the state. (Adobe Stock)

ACLU Ohio calls for standalone death penalty legislation

The ACLU of Ohio is calling for a repeal of the state's current death penalty laws, but some conservative state lawmakers have another idea. House …

Following the U.S. Supreme Court's 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, rulemaking on abortion is now in the hands of the states and could land in their supreme courts. (Adobe Stock)

Montana voters backed abortion rights but state judges have final say

By Bram Sable-Smith and Katheryn Houghton for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Kathleen Shannon for Big Sky Connection reporting for the KFF Healt…

Telehealth allows patients to receive medical care, including prescriptions and consultations, remotely through digital communication such as video calls and online portals. (nenetus/Adobe Stock)

How 'shield laws' apply to telehealth abortion providers

By Rebekah Sager for the Michigan Independent.Broadcast version by Chrystal Blair for Michigan News Connection reporting for the Michigan Independent-…

Supporters say the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act, now in the Arkansas Legislature, would improve pregnancy outcomes by empowering community health workers and ensuring Medicaid coverage for expectant mothers. (yavdat/Adobe Stock)

Bill to improve maternal care for AR families

A new bill before Arkansas lawmakers is designed to improve maternal care for low-income families. If passed the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act …

In 2024, Gov. Josh Shapiro signed Act 55, funding free menstrual products for students. Schools can use the funds for purchases made between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025. (Adobe Stock)

PA advocate: Defunding Planned Parenthood threatens affordable health care

By Rebekah Sager for the Pennsylvania Independent.Broadcast version by Danielle Smith for Keystone State News Connection reporting for the Pennsylvani…

Sex education programs including information on both abstinence and birth control have a better track record, according to Planned Parenthood. (AI generated: anaumenko/Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

NM could buck trend of states scaling back sex ed in schools

A coalition of New Mexico groups is supporting a bill this session to require "Comprehensive Human Sexuality Education" for public school students…

In 2020, Alabama had the third-highest maternal mortality rate in the nation, at 36.4 deaths per 100,000 live births. (Adobe Stock)

New health toolkit aims to bridge AL’s care gap for expecting mothers

Alabama has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the country and access to care remains a serious issue, especially in rural areas. Now…

2023 research shows U.S. maternal mortality rates are on the rise. (Adobe Stock)

Will Kentucky lift restrictions on freestanding birth centers?

Next week, Kentucky lawmakers are expected to consider a bill that would lift legal red tape that backers say makes it difficult to open up …

Rural communities, low-income people and BIPOC people have the least access to health care in Arkansas. (onephoto/Adobe Stock)

Work requirements could be coming for AR Medicaid recipients

Changes could be coming for Arkansans who are on Medicaid. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders is proposing to add work requirements for some Medicaid …

The Episcopal Health Foundation in Texas wants to change the conversation and reshape the debate around health care to focus on the nonmedical drivers of health. (LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS/Adobe Stock)

TX lawmakers urged to make healthy living a priority during legislative session

The Episcopal Health Foundation wants Texas lawmakers to make health a priority during this legislative session. The nonprofit focuses on the …

Michigan's new Maternal Health Equity Package laws, authored in part by Rep. Julie Rogers, D-Kalamazoo, further prioritize the health of new parents and their children in a variety of ways, including implementing mental health screenings for new mothers. (Rep. Julie Rogers)

New MI laws tackle disparities in maternal health care

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently signed landmark legislation to expand access to essential OB/GYN services across Michigan. Between 2018 and 2022…

In 2022, 52% of rural hospitals no longer had maternity wards, compared to 36% of urban hospitals. Cuts to Medicaid funding would affect already struggling rural medical facilities. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed Medicaid cuts threaten rural PA residents, hospitals

Federal safety net programs face major potential cuts as the Trump administration pursues budget reductions, with a House GOP proposal suggesting $2.5…

More than 400,000 people are enrolled in MaineCare, the state's Medicaid program, according to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. At least 40,000 recipients continue in an

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Rural ME braces for Medicaid cuts as lawmakers eye corporate tax breaks

Children and families in rural Maine would face the greatest harm should proposed funding cuts to the federal Medicaid program be implemented…

The PoliChic Engagement Fund helps Texas women get involved through civic engagement to impact public policy. (Jesse B/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

TX women encouraged to honor MLK Jr. by exercising their rights

As the second week of the Texas legislative session gets underway, advocates want women and young girls to pay attention to bills that could impact …

Among adults younger than 65, about 18% of those in small towns and rural America get their coverage through Medicaid, compared with about 16% in metro areas. (AndriiKoval/Adobe Stock)

Possible cuts to Medicaid would hurt many AR families

A study by the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families shows most people who live in small towns and rural areas use Medicaid for healt…

Policy experts said rural residents tend to have lower incomes and less access to employer-sponsored health coverage, making programs such as Medicaid a more prominent option for health insurance. (Adobe Stock)

Report: If Congress guts Medicaid, rural America would notice

Congressional Republicans are taking a hard look at Medicaid as they pursue spending cuts and a new report shows how the public health program is prev…

In Pennsylvania, abortions are legal up to the 23rd week of pregnancy and beyond if the woman's health is at risk. (Parilov/Adobe Stock)

Researcher warns about Christian nationalism's influence on reproductive rights

There are growing concerns about the prevalence of Christian Nationalism, an ideology that seeks to establish a theocracy rooted in Christian …

Toxic PFAS chemicals have been detected in the blood of 99% of Americans, including infants, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

Rising risks of toxic PFAS chemicals in CO drinking water

More than 143 million Americans are at risk of toxic PFAS, so-called forever chemicals, in their drinking water, according to new test results …

According to the National Council of Urban Indian Health, the average age of Indian Health Service facilities is over 37 years and the maintenance backlog was about $515 million in 2021. (Adobe Stock)

SD’s Native population sees 'double whammy' of health barriers

Funding for the Indian Health Service has increased over the past decade but the agency remains underfunded, which affects both the health and …

According to the March of Dimes, 15.4% of Wyoming women did not have a birthing hospital within 30 minutes of home last year, compared to a U.S. average of 9.7%. (MANUEL/Adobe Stock)<br />

Another birthing center closes, WY maternal health struggles continue

Evanston Regional Hospital is discontinuing its labor and delivery services next week, citing a "steady decline of demand." It is the fourth Wyoming …

The work of GreenLatinos Texas, centers around empowering frontline environmental justice and conservation advocates. Members are actively engaging with local communities to understand their campaign goals and identify areas where support is needed. (Photo courtesy of Green Latinos)

TX group works to give Latinos seat at table in fight against methane

Members of the environmental nonprofit GreenLatinos are involved in a push to get more Latinos across Texas involved in the fight against methane gas…

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