One in Three U.S. Counties Now Labeled Maternity Care Deserts

The 2026 report, "Nowhere to Go," highlights a systemic erosion of maternal health infrastructure. Women in identified "maternity care deserts" must travel three times farther than those with full access, a burden linked to higher rates of maternal morbidity, delayed prenatal care, and increased neonatal intensive care admissions. The closures are not merely statistical anomalies; in 60% of affected counties, the shuttered facility was the only local option for birth, adding an average of 25 minutes to travel times.

Rural areas face the most acute shortages, with 58% of counties lacking obstetric clinicians compared to 19% in urban centers. Cindy Rahman, President and CEO of March of Dimes, noted that shifting healthcare policies threaten to widen these gaps further. The organization is advocating for legislative interventions, such as the Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act, while simultaneously deploying mobile health centers and expanding doula support initiatives in high-need regions like Houston, New York, and Phoenix. Despite the success of Medicaid expansions in reducing uninsured rates, the persistent nature of these care deserts suggests that current policy frameworks remain insufficient to ensure equitable access for all families.