Maternity deserts create challenges for expectant families

(InvestigateTV) — When it comes to having a baby, where you live can affect how easy it is to get care and how much extra time and money it may take to get it.

About 35 percent of counties in the United States today are maternity deserts, according to Erin Mackay with the National Partnership for Women & Families (NPWF). That means there is not a single birthing facility or clinical professional that can deliver your baby.

“That can drive up costs because women have to travel further distances for care,” Mackay said. “And oftentimes it results in unnecessary complications because care is delayed.”

For many families, access to maternity care can depend on zip code. She said longer travel for care can also mean higher costs.

Hospital closures contribute to problem

Hospital closures and provider shortages are part of the problem.

“There are rural hospitals and rural, labor and delivery units all over the country that have been closing for the past several years,” Mackay explained.

The NPWF recently did an analysis and found that with some of the funding cuts that states are expecting, another 130 labor and delivery units in rural parts of the country are at risk of closing.

“And so that is going to make care harder to access and going to further drive-up costs,” Mackay said.

She said families should think early about what kind of maternity care team they need and what may be covered where they live.

“Maybe there is a hospital that has a midwifery practice. Maybe they live in a state where the Medicaid program covers doula services,” Mackay said.

Once you have a plan, she said call ahead and ask the hospital or provider for a good faith estimate so you have a better idea of what you may owe.

And after your baby is delivered, take a close look at your bill. Review the charges carefully and contact the hospital if something doesn’t look right.