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Objectives. To measure rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) screening during the perinatal period among people experiencing physical violence in the United States. Methods. We used 2016–2019 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System data (n = 158 338) to describe the incidence of physical IPV before or during pregnancy. We then assessed the prevalence of IPV screening before, during, or after pregnancy and predictors of receiving screening among those reporting violence. Results. Among the 3.5% (n = 6259) of respondents experiencing violence, 58.7%, 26.9%, and 48.3% were not screened before, during, or after pregnancy, respectively. Those reporting Medicaid or no insurance at birth, American Indian/Alaska Native people, and Spanish-speaking Hispanic people faced increased risk of not having a health care visit during which screening might occur. Among those attending a health care visit, privately insured people, rural residents, and non-Hispanic White respondents faced increased risk of not being screened. Conclusions. Among birthing people reporting physical IPV, nearly half were not screened for IPV before or after pregnancy. Public health efforts to improve maternal health must address both access to care and universal screening for IPV. (Am J Public Health. 2023;113(3):297–305. https://doi.org/10.2105/10.2105/AJPH.2022.307195 )

We examined differences in rates of severe maternal morbidity and mortality (SMMM) among Medicaid-funded compared with privately insured hospital births through specific additive and intersectional risk by rural or urban geography, race and ethnicity, and clinical factors.We used maternal discharge records from childbirth hospitalizations in the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's National Inpatient Sample from 2007 to 2015. We calculated predicted probabilities using weighted multivariable logistic regressions to estimate adjusted rates of SMMM, examining differences in rates by payer, rurality, race and ethnicity, and clinical factors. To assess the presence and extent of additive risk by payer, with other risk factors, on rates of SMMM, we estimated the proportion of the combined effect that was due to the interaction.In this analysis of 6,357,796 hospitalizations for childbirth, 2,932,234 were Medicaid funded and 3,425,562 were privately insured. Controlling for sociodemographic and clinical factors, the highest rate of SMMM (224.9 per 10,000 births) occurred among rural Indigenous Medicaid-funded births. Medicaid-funded births among Black rural and urban residents, and among Hispanic urban residents, also experienced elevated rates and significant additive interaction. Thirty-two percent (Bonferroni-adjusted 95% confidence interval, 19%-45%) of SMMM cases among patients with chronic heart disease were due to payer interaction, and 19% (Bonferroni-adjusted 95% confidence interval, 17%-22%) among those with cesarean birth were due to the interaction.Heightened rates of SMMM among Medicaid-funded births indicate an opportunity for tailored state and federal policy responses to address the particular maternal health challenges faced by Medicaid beneficiaries, including Black, Indigenous, and rural residents.

INTRODUCTION: The objectives of this study were to include readmissions and physician costs in the estimates of total costs of severe maternal morbidity (SMM), to consider the effect of SMM on maternal length of stay (LOS), and to examine these for the more restricted definition of SMM that excludes transfusion-only cases. METHODS: California linked birth certificate-patient discharge data for 2009-2011 (N=1,262,862) with complete costs and LOS were used in a secondary data analysis. Cost-to-charge ratios were used to estimate costs from charges, adjusting for inflation. Physician payments were estimated from mean payments for specific diagnosis related groups. Generalized linear models estimated the association between SMM and costs and LOS. RESULTS: Excluding readmissions and physician costs, SMM was associated with a 60% increase in hospital costs (marginal effect (ME) $3,550) and 33% increase in LOS (ME 0.9 days). These increased to 70% (ME $5,806) and 46% (ME 1.3 days) when physican costs and readmissions were included. The effects of SMM were roughly half as large for patients who only required a blood transfusion (49%, ME $4,056 and 31%, ME 0.9 days) as for patients who had another indicator for SMM (93%, ME $7,664 and 62%, ME 1.7 days). CONCLUSIONS: Postpartum hospital readmissions and physician costs are important and previously unreported contributors to the costs of SMM. Excess costs and LOS associated with SMM vary considerably by indication. Cost effects were larger than the LOS effects, indicating that SMM increases treatment intensity beyond increasing LOS, and reducing SMM may have broader health and cost benefits than previously understood.

To examine the association between severe maternal morbidity (SMM) and infant health using the additional infant costs and length of stay (LOS) as markers of added clinical complexity.Secondary data analysis using California linked birth certificate-patient discharge data for 2009-2011 (N = 1,260,457). Regression models were used to estimate the association between SMM and infant costs and LOS.The 16,687 SMM-exposed infants experienced a $6550 (33%) increase in costs and a 0.7 (18%) day increase in LOS. Preterm infants had ($11,258 (18%) added costs and 1.3 days (8.1%) longer LOS) than term infants ($2539 (38%) added costs and 0.5 days (22%) longer LOS).SMM was associated with increased infant costs and LOS, suggesting that SMM may have adverse health effects for infants, including term infants. The relatively larger effect on costs indicates an increase in treatment intensity (clinical severity) greater than additional LOS.

This cross-sectional study investigates trends in death rates and proportion of deaths by pregnancy period among pregnant and postpartum individuals from 1994 to 2019.

Purpose Policy and reproductive health practice changes in the past decade have affected use of different contraceptive methods, but no study has assessed contraceptive method use over this time by rural–urban residence in the United States. Methods We used female and male respondent data (2006–2017) from the National Survey of Family Growth (n = 29,133 women and n = 24,364 men) to estimate contraceptive method use by rural–urban residence over time and contraceptive method use by age, marital status, and parity/number of children. Results From 2006–2010 to 2013–2017, among urban women, we found increased use of two or more methods (11% to 14%); increased use of intrauterine devices (5% to 11%), implants (0 to 2%), and withdrawal (5 to 8%); and decreased use of sterilization (28% to 22%) and pills (26% to 22%). Among rural women, we found increased use of intrauterine devices (5% to 9%) and implants (1% to 5%). We found increased withdrawal use for urban men, but otherwise no differences among men across time. In data pooled across all survey periods (2006–2017), contraceptive method use varied by rural–urban residence across age, marital status, and parity/number of children. Conclusions In a nationally representative sample of reproductive age women and men, we found rural–urban differences in contraceptive method use from 2006–2010 to 2013–2017. Describing contraceptive use differences by rural–urban residence is necessary for tailoring reproductive health services to populations appropriately.

The aim of the study is to determine the relationship between a hospital's provision of subspecialty neonatal and maternal care. Specifically, we sought to understand where women with high-risk maternal conditions received intrapartum care and estimate the potential transfer burden for those with maternal high-risk conditions delivering at hospitals without subspecialty maternal care. This is a descriptive study using data from 2015 State Inpatient Databases and the American Hospital Association Annual Survey. Characteristics were compared between hospitals based on the concordance of their maternal and neonatal care. The incidences of high-risk maternal conditions (pre-eclampsia with severe features, placenta previa with prior cesarean delivery, cardiac disease, pulmonary edema, and acute liver failure) were compared. To determine the potential referral burden, the percent of women with high-risk conditions delivering at a hospital without subspecialty maternal care but delivering in a county with a hospital with subspecialty maternal care was calculated. The analysis included 486,398 women who delivered at 544 hospitals, of which 104 (19%) and 182 (33%) had subspecialty maternal and neonatal care, respectively. Ninety-eight hospitals provided both subspecialty maternal and neonatal care; however, 84 hospitals provided only subspecialty neonatal care but no subspecialty maternal care. Among high-risk maternal conditions examined, approximately 65% of women delivered at a hospital with subspecialty maternal care. Of the remainder who delivered at a hospital without subspecialty maternal care, one-third were in a county where subspecialty care was present. For women with high-risk conditions who delivered in a county without subspecialty maternal care, the median distance to the closest county with subspecialty care was 52.8 miles (IQR 34.3-87.7 miles). Approximately 50% of hospitals with subspecialty neonatal care do not provide subspecialty maternal care. This discordance may present a challenge when both high-risk maternal and neonatal conditions are present.· High-risk women who deliver at hospitals without subspecialty care are in more rural areas.. · Approximately 50% of hospitals with subspecialty neonatal care do not provide subspecialty maternal care.. · This discordance may present a challenge when both high-risk maternal and neonatal conditions are present..

Objective To compare the type, frequency, and timing of health care use among commercially insured postpartum and nonpostpartum women. Methods This retrospective cohort study used data from a large national commercial claims database. Women between 18 and 44 years of age who gave birth in 2016 (n=149,563) and women who were neither pregnant nor postpartum between 2015 and 2017 (n=2,048,831) (nonpostpartum) were included. We examined hospitalization, and preventive visits, problem visits, and emergency department (ED) visits among postpartum women during the early postpartum period (less than 21 days after childbirth), the postpartum period (21-60 days postpartum), and extended postpartum period (61-365 days after childbirth). Visits among nonpostpartum women were assessed during time periods of equivalent duration. Results Almost 24% of postpartum women had a problem visit in the early postpartum period, compared with 19.7% of nonpostpartum women (adjusted difference 4.8 percentage points [95% CI 4.6-5.0]). Approximately 3% of postpartum women had an early ED visit, more than double the percentage among nonpostpartum women (adjusted difference 2.3 percentage points [95% CI 2.2-2.4]). Both problem visits and ED visits among postpartum women remained elevated relative to nonpostpartum women during the postpartum and extended postpartum periods. Although postpartum women were more likely than nonpostpartum women to receive preventive care during the early and postpartum periods, only 43% of postpartum women had a preventive visit during the extended postpartum period, a rate 1.8 (95% CI -2.1 to -1.5) percentage points lower than that of nonpostpartum women. Adjusted hospitalization rates among postpartum women in the early (0.8%), postpartum (0.3%), and extended postpartum (1.4%) periods were higher than those of nonpostpartum women (0.1%, 0.2%, and 1.6%, respectively). Conclusions Commercially insured postpartum women use more health care than nonpostpartum women, including inpatient care. Differences are largest in the early postpartum period and persist beyond 60 days postpartum.

Racial and ethnic inequities in health are a national crisis requiring engagement across a range of factors, including the health care workforce. Racial inequities in maternal and infant health are an increasing focus of attention in the wake of rising rates of maternal morbidity and mortality in the United States. Efforts to achieve racial equity in childbirth should include attention to the nurses who provide care before and during pregnancy, at childbirth, and postpartum.

To compare rural obstetric patient and neonate characteristics and outcomes by birth location.Retrospective observational cohort study of rural residents' hospital births from California, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina. Hospitals in rural counties were rural-located, those in metropolitan counties with ≥10% of obstetric patients from rural communities were rural-serving, metropolitan-located, others were non-rural-serving, metropolitan-located. Any adverse obstetric patient or neonatal outcomes were assessed with logistic regression accounting for patient characteristics, state, year, and hospital.Of 466,896 rural patient births, 64.3% occurred in rural-located, 22.5% in rural-serving, metropolitan-located, and 13.1% in non-rural-serving, metropolitan-located hospitals. The odds of any adverse outcome increased in rural-serving (aOR 1.27, 95% CI 1.10-1.46) and non-rural-serving (aOR 1.35, 95% CI 1.18-1.55) metropolitan-located hospitals.One-third of rural obstetric patients received care in metropolitan-located hospitals. These patients have higher comorbidity rates and higher odds of adverse outcomes likely reflecting referral for higher baseline illness severity.

Background Primary care practices increasingly include nurse practitioners (NPs), in addition to physicians. Little is known about how the patient mix and clinical activities of colocated physicians and NPs compare. Objectives To describe the clinical activities of NPs, compared with physicians. Research design We used claims and electronic health record data from athenahealth Inc., on primary care practices in 2017 and a cross-sectional analysis with practice fixed effects. Subjects Patients receiving treatment from physicians and NPs within primary care practices. Measures First, we measured patient characteristics (payer, age, sex, race, chronic condition count) and visit characteristics (new patient, scheduled duration, same-day visit, after-hours visit). Second, we measured procedures performed and diagnoses recorded during each visit. Finally, we measured daily quantity (visit volume, minutes scheduled for patient care, total work relative value units billed) of care. Results Relative to physicians, NPs treated younger and healthier patients. NPs also had a larger share of patients who were female, non-White, and covered by Medicaid, commercial insurance, or no insurance. NPs scheduled longer appointments and treated more patients on a same-day or after-hours basis. On average, "overlapping" services-those performed by NPs and physicians within the same practice-represented 92% of all service volume. The small share of services performed exclusively by physicians reflected greater clinical intensity. On a daily basis, NPs provided fewer and less intense visits than physicians within the same practice. Conclusions Our findings suggest considerable overlap between the clinical activities of colocated NPs and physicians, with some differentiation based on intensity of services provided.

This study examines racial and ethnic differences in self-rated health among rural residents and whether these differences can be explained by socio-demographic characteristics. We used data from the 2011–2017 National Health Interview Survey to assess differences in self-rated health by race and ethnicity among rural residents (living in non-metropolitan counties; n = 46,883). We used logistic regression analyses to estimate the odds of reporting fair/poor health after adjusting for individual socio-demographic characteristics. Non-Hispanic Black and American Indian rural residents reported worse self-rated health than their non-Hispanic White counterparts (25.8% and 20.8% reporting fair/poor health, respectively, vs. 14.8%; p

Insurance churn, or moving between different insurance plans or between insurance and uninsurance, is common during the perinatal period. We used survey data from the 2012–17 Pregnancy Risk Assessm...

The growing ranks of nurse practitioners (NPs) in rural areas of the United States have the potential to help alleviate existing primary care shortages. This study uses a nationwide source of claims- and EHR-data from 2017 to construct measures of NP clinical autonomy and complexity of care. Comparisons between rural and urban primary care practices reveal greater clinical autonomy for rural NPs, who were more likely to have an independent patient panel, to practice with less physician supervision, and to prescribe Schedule II controlled substances. In contrast, rural and urban NPs provided care of similar complexity. These findings provide the first claims- and EHR-based evidence for the commonly held perception that NPs practice more autonomously in rural areas than in urban areas.

OBJECTIVE: To test whether Minnesota's blended payment policy had differential effects on cesarean use and maternal morbidity among black women and white women in Minnesota, as compared to six control states. DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING: Claims data from births to Medicaid fee‐for‐service beneficiaries, 2006‐2012, in Minnesota (policy state) and six control states (Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana). STUDY DESIGN: The key study intervention was Minnesota's blended payment policy, which established one single payment rate for uncomplicated vaginal and cesarean births in 2009. The primary outcome was cesarean birth, and secondary outcomes were maternal morbidity (composite), postpartum hemorrhage, and chorioamnionitis. Policy effects were assessed using race‐stratified comparative interrupted time series analysis. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Following policy implementation, cesarean use decreased among both black and white women in Minnesota compared to control states; this decline was larger among black women (−2.88 percent 3‐year cumulative decline, from a prepolicy cesarean rate of 22.2 percent) than among white women (−1.32 percent, P = .0013). Postpartum hemorrhage increased, with larger increases among black women (1.20 percent 3‐year cumulative increase), compared with white women (0.48 percent, P

Indigenous women are at increased risk for severe maternal morbidity and mortality, particularly those who live in rural areas., OBJECTIVE: To describe delivery-related severe maternal morbidity and mortality among indigenous women compared with non-Hispanic white (white) women, distinguishing rural and urban residents. METHODS: We used 2012–2015 maternal hospital discharge data from the National Inpatient Sample to conduct a pooled, cross-sectional analysis of indigenous and white patients who gave birth. We used weighted multivariable logistic regression and predictive population margins to measure health conditions and severe maternal morbidity and mortality (identified using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis and procedure codes) among indigenous and white patients, to test for differences across both groups, and to test for differences between rural and urban residents within each racial category. RESULTS: We identified an estimated 7,561,729 (unweighted n=1,417,500) childbirth hospitalizations that were included in the analyses. Of those, an estimated 101,493 (unweighted n=19,080) were among indigenous women, and an estimated 7,460,236 (unweighted n=1,398,420) were among white women. The incidence of severe maternal morbidity and mortality was greater among indigenous women compared with white women (2.0% vs 1.1%, respectively; relative risk [RR] 1.8, 95% CI 1.6–2.0). Within each group, incidence was higher among rural compared with urban residents (2.3% for rural indigenous women vs 1.8% for urban indigenous women [RR 1.3, 95% CI 1.0–1.6]; 1.3% for rural white women vs 1.2% for urban white women [RR 1.1, 95% CI 1.1–1.2]). CONCLUSION: Severe maternal morbidity and mortality is elevated among indigenous women compared with white women. Incidence is highest among rural indigenous residents. Efforts to improve maternal health should focus on populations at greatest risk, including rural indigenous populations.

In the United States, severe maternal morbidity and mortality is climbing—a reality that is especially challenging for rural communities, which face declining access to obstetric services. Severe m...

Despite well-documented health disparities by rurality and race/ethnicity, research investigating racial/ethnic health differences among US rural residents is limited. We used county-level data to measure and compare premature death rates in rural counties by each county's majority racial/ethnic group. Premature death rates were significantly higher in rural counties with a majority of non-Hispanic black or American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) residents than in rural counties with a majority of non-Hispanic white residents. After we adjusted for community-level covariates, differences in premature death remained significant in counties with a majority of AI/AN residents but not those with a majority of non-Hispanic black residents. This study highlights the particular vulnerability of non-Hispanic black and AI/AN rural communities to high rates of premature mortality. Policies to improve rural health should focus on these racially diverse communities, addressing economic vitality and current and historical political context to mitigate health inequities and the harmful health effects of neglecting social determinants of health.

This cohort study examines the geographic distribution, proximity, and urban adjacency of US obstetric hospitals by annual birth volume from 2010 to 2018., Key Points Question What were the birth volumes and geographic distributions of US obstetric hospitals from 2010 to 2018? Findings In this cohort study of 34 054 951 births at 3207 obstetric hospitals identified using American Hospital Association data from 2010 to 2018, 56.8% of infants were born in high-volume obstetric hospitals, and 37.4% of hospitals were low volume. Among low-volume hospitals, 18.9% were isolated and 58.4% of these were rural. Meaning In this cohort study, birth volumes varied among US obstetric hospitals, with many isolated, low-volume obstetric hospitals located in rural areas, suggesting a need to ensure access to perinatal care., Importance Timely access to clinically appropriate obstetric services is critical to the provision of high-quality perinatal care. Objective To examine the geographic distribution, proximity, and urban adjacency of US obstetric hospitals by annual birth volume. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective population-based cohort study identified US hospitals with obstetric services using the American Hospital Association (AHA) Annual Survey of Hospitals and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid provider of services data from 2010 to 2018. Obstetric hospitals with 10 or more births per year were included in the study. Data analysis was performed from November 6, 2020, to April 5, 2021. Exposure Hospital birth volume, defined by annual birth volume categories of 10 to 500, 501 to 1000, 1001 to 2000, and more than 2000 births. Main Outcomes and Measures Outcomes assessed by birth volume category were percentage of births (from annual AHA data), number of hospitals, geographic distribution of hospitals among states, proximity between obstetric hospitals, and urban adjacency defined by urban influence codes, which classify counties by population size and adjacency to a metropolitan area. Results The study included 26 900 hospital-years of data from 3207 distinct US hospitals with obstetric services, reflecting 34 054 951 associated births. Most infants (19 327 487 [56.8%]) were born in hospitals with more than 2000 births/y, and 2 528 259 (7.4%) were born in low-volume (10-500 births/y) hospitals. More than one-third of obstetric hospitals (37.4%; 10 064 hospital-years) were low volume. A total of 46 states had obstetric hospitals in all volume categories. Among low-volume hospitals, 18.9% (1904 hospital-years) were not within 30 miles of any other obstetric hospital and 23.9% (2400 hospital-years) were within 30 miles of a hospital with more than 2000 deliveries/y. Isolated hospitals (those without another obstetric hospital within 30 miles) were more frequently low volume, with 58.4% (1112 hospital-years) located in noncore rural areas. Conclusions and Relevance In this cohort study, marked variations were found in birth volume, geographic distribution, proximity, and urban adjacency among US obstetric hospitals from 2010 to 2018. The findings related to geographic isolation and rural-urban distribution of low-volume obstetric hospitals suggest the need to balance proximity with volume to optimize effective referral and access to high-quality perinatal care.

ImportanceLittle is known about the quality of postpartum care or disparities in the content of postpartum care associated with health insurance, rural or urban residency, and race and ethnicity.ObjectivesTo examine receipt of recommended postpartum care content and to describe variations across health insurance type, rural or urban residence, and race and ethnicity.Design, Settings, and ParticipantsThis cross-sectional survey of patients with births from 2016 to 2019 used data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (43 states and 2 jurisdictions). A population-based sample of patients conducted by state and local health departments in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were surveyed about maternal experiences 2 to 6 months after childbirth (mean weighted response rate, 59.9%). Patients who attended a postpartum visit were assessed for content at that visit. Analyses were performed November 2021 to July 2022.ExposuresMedicaid or private health insurance, rural or urban residence, and race and ethnicity (non-Hispanic White or racially minoritized groups).Main Outcomes and MeasuresReceipt of 2 postpartum care components recommended by national quality standards (depression screening and contraceptive counseling), and/or other recommended components (smoking screening, abuse screening, birth spacing counseling, eating and exercise discussions) with estimated risk-adjusted predicted probabilities and percentage-point (pp) differences.ResultsAmong the 138 073 patient-respondents, most (59.5%) were in the age group from 25 to 34 years old; 59 726 (weighted percentage, 40%) were insured by Medicaid; 27 721 (15%) were rural residents; 9718 (6%) were Asian, 24 735 (15%) were Black, 22 210 (15%) were Hispanic, 66 323 (60%) were White, and fewer than 1% were Indigenous (Native American/Alaska Native) individuals. Receipt of both depression screening and contraceptive counseling both significantly lower for Medicaid-insured patients (1.2 pp lower than private; 95% CI, –2.1 to –0.3), rural residents (1.3 pp lower than urban; 95% CI, –2.2 to –0.4), and people of racially minoritized groups (0.8 pp lower than White individuals; 95% CI, –1.6 to –0.1). The highest receipt of these components was among privately insured White urban residents (80%; 95% CI, 79% to 81%); the lowest was among privately insured racially minoritized rural residents (75%; 95% CI, 72% to 78%). Receipt of all other components was significantly higher for Medicaid-insured patients (6.1 pp; 95% CI, 5.2 to 7.0), rural residents (1.1 pp; 95% CI, 0.1 to 2.0), and people of racially minoritized groups (8.5 pp; 95% CI, 7.7 to 9.4). The highest receipt of these components was among Medicaid-insured racially minoritized urban residents (34%; 95% CI, 33% to 35%), the lowest was among privately insured White urban residents (19%; 95% CI, 18% to 19%).Conclusions and RelevanceThe findings of this cross-sectional survey of postpartum individuals in the US suggest that inequities in postpartum care content were extensive and compounded for patients with multiple disadvantaged identities. Examining only 1 dimension of identity may understate the extent of disparities. Future studies should consider the content of postpartum care visits.

Increases in postpartum maternal deaths, including a substantial number associated with behavioural health conditions, are a public health crisis and have contributed to overall increases in maternal mortality. A leading hypothesis to explain this pattern suggests lack of availability or continuity of resources for behavioural health treatment after delivery, often secondary to lapses in insurance coverage. Extending postpartum Medicaid coverage through the first year postpartum could mitigate excess morbidity and mortality among postpartum individuals, particularly those with behavioural health conditions.

Objectives. To describe characteristics of rural hospitals in the United States by whether they provide labor and delivery (obstetric) care for pregnant patients. Methods. We used the 2017 American Hospital Association Annual Survey to identify rural hospitals and describe their characteristics based on the lack or provision of obstetric services. Results. Among the 2019 rural hospitals in the United States, 51% (n = 1032) of rural hospitals did not provide obstetric care. These hospitals were more often located in rural noncore counties (counties with no town of more than 10 000 residents). Rural hospitals without obstetrics also had lower average daily censuses, were more likely to be government owned or for profit compared with nonprofit ownership, and were more likely to not have an emergency department compared with hospitals providing obstetric care (P for all comparisons Conclusions. Rural US hospitals that do not provide obstetric care are located in more sparsely populated rural locations and are smaller than hospitals providing obstetric care. Public Health Implications. Understanding the characteristics of rural hospitals by lack or provision of obstetric services is important to clinical and policy efforts to ensure safe maternity care for rural residents.

Objectives Between 1990 and 2013, maternal mortality nearly doubled in the United States and rural residents experienced decreasing access to obstetric care. To improve maternal health, many states have established maternal mortality and morbidity review committees (MMRCs). We assessed the extent of rural representation in state policy efforts related to MMRCs. Methods We reviewed publicly available information on MMRCs (websites, statutes, bills, media) in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, separately identifying highly rural states (with >30% of the population being rural residents). We assessed whether each state 1) had established an MMRC, 2) had passed legislation requiring an MMRC, 3) had considered, but not passed, legislation requiring an MMRC, 4) mentioned rural populations in MMRC legislation, 5) required representation on the MMRC from any particular groups, and 6) required rural representation on the MMRC. Results As of December 2018, MMRCs were established in 45 states and the District of Columbia, an increase from 23 in 2010. Legislation was in place in 27 states, up from 6 in 2010. Only three states specifically mentioned rurality in legislation (including one highly rural state), and only two states required rural representation among their MMRC members (neither of which were highly rural states). Conclusions Recent growth in MMRCs has had a limited focus on rural residents, despite their worse health outcomes and more limited access to health care, including obstetric services. Lack of rural representation may hamper geographically tailored efforts to reverse rising rates of maternal morbidity and mortality nationally.

Introduction Racial disparities in birth outcomes originate with a confluence of factors including social determinants of health, toxic stress, structural racism, and barriers to engaging, high-quality perinatal care. Historically and currently, midwives are disproportionately white, and attention to the racial and ethnic diversity of midwives is an increasing focus in birth equity efforts. This qualitative study helps fill the gap in literature by assessing the perspectives and motivations of midwives of color. Methods Building on concepts from critical race theory, semistructured interviews (30-90 minutes long) were used to elicit an authentic voice from midwives of color, who primarily identified as African American. Participants (N = 7) were midwives who were affiliated with an African American-owned birth center in north Minneapolis, Minnesota. Participants represented an estimated 58% of all midwives of color in the state of Minnesota. Emergent themes were identified using a grounded theory, inductive approach. Three rounds of coding were conducted, and key themes were identified and analyzed. Results Three primary themes emerged as motivations for midwives of color: 1) offering racially concordant care to the community, 2) racial justice as a primary motivation in their work, and 3) providing physically and emotionally safe care. Racially concordant care was identified both as a motivating factor and as a way of providing physically and emotionally safe care. Discussion Findings suggest that midwives of color maintain a critical analysis of and commitment to eliminating racial perinatal inequities. Their motivation to provide racially concordant care elicits an urgency in current efforts to recruit and train more midwives of color, recognizing the current lack of racial and ethnic diversity in the field. Understanding how to support the work of equity-minded midwives of color may help to improve access to racially concordant health care providers and care that better meets the unique needs of African American individuals.

Introduction There is empirical evidence that the quality of interpersonal care patients receive varies dramatically along racial and ethnic lines, with African American people often reporting much lower quality of care than their white counterparts. Improving the interpersonal relationship between clinicians and patients has been identified as one way to improve quality of care. Specifically, research has identified that patients feel more satisfied with the care that they receive from clinicians with whom they share a racial identity. However, little is known about how clinicians provide racially concordant care. The goal of this analysis was to identify the key components of high-quality care that were most salient for African American birthworkers providing perinatal care to African American patients. Methods We conducted semistructured interviews (30 to 90 minutes) with clinicians (N = 10; midwives, student midwives, and doulas) who either worked at or worked closely with an African American-owned birth center in North Minneapolis, Minnesota. We used inductive coding methods to analyze data and to identify key themes. Results Providing racially concordant perinatal care to African American birthing individuals required clinicians to acknowledge and center the sociocultural realities and experiences of their patients. Four key themes emerged in our analysis. The first overarching theme identified was the need to acknowledge how cultural identity of patients is fundamental to the clinical encounter. The second theme that emerged was a commitment to racial justice. The third and fourth themes were agency and cultural humility, which highlight the reciprocal nature of the clinician-patient relationship. Discussion The most salient aspect of the care that birthworkers of color provide is their culturally centered approach. This approach and all subsequent themes suggest that achieving birth equity for pregnant African American people starts by acknowledging and honoring their sociocultural experiences.

PURPOSE Social isolation is an urgent threat to public health. Meanwhile, health outcomes across multiple measures are worse in rural areas, where distance to neighbors is often greater and opportunities for social interaction may be scarcer. Still, very little research examines rural-urban differences in social isolation. This study addresses that gap by examining differences in social isolation by rurality among US older adults. METHODS Using Wave 2 of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project data (n = 2,439), we measured differences between urban and rural (micropolitan or noncore) residents across multiple dimensions of social isolation. We also conducted multivariable analysis to assess the associations between rurality, sociodemographic characteristics, and loneliness, overall and by rurality. Finally, we conducted multivariable analysis to assess the association between social isolation and self-rated health, adjusting for rurality. FINDINGS Compared to urban residents, rural residents had more social relationships and micropolitan rural residents were more likely to be able to rely on family members (95.8% vs 91.3%, P < .05). Micropolitan rural residents reported lower rates of loneliness than urban residents after adjusting for sociodemographic and health characteristics (b = -0.32, P < .05), whereas noncore rural, non-Hispanic black residents had a greater likelihood of reporting loneliness (b = 4.33, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS Overall, noncore and micropolitan rural residents reported less social isolation and more social relationships than urban residents. However, there were differences by race and ethnicity among rural residents in perceived loneliness. Policies and programs to address social isolation should be tailored by geography and should account for within-rural differences in risk factors.

Key Points Question What factors are associated with postpartum uninsurance among Medicaid-paid births? Findings In this cross-sectional survey study of 63 370 respondents with a Medicaid-paid birth in 43 states, 41.7% were no longer insured by Medicaid postpartum and 22.0% were uninsured. Postpartum uninsurance after a Medicaid-paid birth varied widely by state, Medicaid expansion status, and maternal race/ethnicity. Meaning State extensions of pregnancy-related Medicaid eligibility through the first year postpartum may to disproportionately benefit Hispanic and Indigenous people and those living in Medicaid nonexpansion states., Importance To reduce postpartum uninsurance and improve postpartum health, the American Rescue Plan included an option for states to extend pregnancy-related Medicaid from 60 days to 1 year after childbirth. Recent estimates of postpartum uninsurance among Medicaid-paid births would provide information on who would benefit from state adoption of this extension. Objective To estimate rates of postpartum uninsurance among individuals with Medicaid-paid births. Design, Setting, and Participants This cross-sectional study used survey data from the 2015 to 2018 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), a representative sample of births in 43 states and New York City, New York, and included PRAMS participants for whom Medicaid was the primary payer for childbirth. The mean weighted PRAMS response rate was 60.9% for the sites and years included in this study. The data were analyzed from December 2020 to January 2021. Interventions or Exposures Self-reported postpartum uninsurance measured at the time of the PRAMS survey (mean [interquartile range], 4.2 (3.0-5.0) months after birth). Main Outcomes and Measures Survey-weighted rates of postpartum uninsurance and 95% CIs overall, by state, by state Medicaid expansion status, and by maternal sociodemographic characteristics. Adjusted odds ratios of the association between maternal characteristics and postpartum uninsurance. Results We identified 63 370 respondents with a Medicaid-paid birth. Of these, 22 016 (41.1%) were non-Hispanic White individuals, 17 442 (22.0%) non-Hispanic Black individuals, 6808 (13.3%) Spanish-speaking Hispanic individuals, 7000 (13.7%) English-speaking Hispanic individuals, 2410 (4.0%) Asian/Pacific Islander individuals, and 3894 (1.3%) Indigenous individuals. Of these, 41.7% were no longer insured by Medicaid postpartum and 22.0% were uninsured postpartum. The postpartum uninsurance rate was 3 times higher in Medicaid nonexpansion states (36.8%) compared with expansion states (12.8%). Postpartum uninsurance varied significantly across states, ranging from 1.7% in Massachusetts to 56.7% in Texas. There were substantial racial and ethnic disparities in postpartum uninsurance: 54.9% of Hispanic, Spanish-speaking individuals (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 6.2; 95% CI, 5.5-7.0) and 42.8% of Indigenous respondents reported postpartum uninsurance (aOR, 4.3; 95% CI, 3.8-4.9) compared with 15.2% of non-Hispanic White respondents. The odds of postpartum uninsurance was higher among unmarried people (aOR, 1.3 compared with married people; 95% CI, 1.2-1.4), those 35 years and older (aOR, 1.5 compared with those younger than 20 years; 95% CI, 1.2-1.9) and those with lower levels of education (aOR, 0.8 for more than high school compared with less than high school; 95% CI, 0.7-0.9). Conclusions and Relevance In this cross-sectional survey study of 43 states, a high proportion of people with Medicaid-paid births were uninsured in the postpartum period, particularly those living in Medicaid nonexpansion states. The study findings suggest that state extensions of pregnancy-related Medicaid eligibility through the first year postpartum could disproportionately benefit Hispanic and Indigenous people, unmarried people, those with lower education levels, and those living in Medicaid nonexpansion states., This cross-sectional survey examines rates of postpartum uninsurance among individuals with Medicaid Medicaid-paid births.

A majority of low-income women experience disruptions (gaps and transitions) in health insurance during pregnancy and the first year post partum (the perinatal period).1,2,3 We characterized the association between health care use and 4 distinct patterns of insurance coverage across the perinatal period among low-income pregnant and postpartum women.

Purpose For reproductive-age women, medications for opioid use disorder (OUD) decrease risk of overdose death and improve outcomes but are underutilized. Our objective was to provide a qualitative description of reproductive-age women's experiences of seeking an appointment for medications for OUD. Methods Trained female callers placed telephone calls to a representative sample of publicly listed opioid treatment clinics and buprenorphine providers in Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia to obtain appointments to receive medication for OUD. Callers were randomly assigned to be pregnant or non-pregnant and have private or Medicaid-based insurance to assess differences in the experiences of access by these characteristics. The callers placed 28,651 uniquely randomized calls, 10,117 to buprenorphine-waivered prescribers and 754 to opioid treatment programs. Open-ended, qualitative data were obtained from the callers about the access experiences and were analyzed using a qualitative, iterative inductive-deductive approach. From all 28,651 total calls, there were 17,970 unique free-text comments to the question “Please give an objective play-by-play of the description of what happened in this conversation.” Findings Analysis demonstrated a common path to obtaining an appointment. Callers frequently experienced long hold times, multiple transfers, and difficult interactions. Clinic receptionists were often mentioned as facilitating or obstructing access. Pregnant callers and those with Medicaid noted more barriers. Obtaining an appointment was commonly difficult even for these persistent, trained callers. Conclusions Interventions are needed to improve the experiences of reproductive-age women as they enter care for OUD, especially for pregnant women and those with Medicaid coverage.

To compare the type, frequency, and timing of health care use among commercially insured postpartum and nonpostpartum women.This retrospective cohort study used data from a large national commercial claims database. Women between 18 and 44 years of age who gave birth in 2016 (n=149,563) and women who were neither pregnant nor postpartum between 2015 and 2017 (n=2,048,831) (nonpostpartum) were included. We examined hospitalization, and preventive visits, problem visits, and emergency department (ED) visits among postpartum women during the early postpartum period (less than 21 days after childbirth), the postpartum period (21-60 days postpartum), and extended postpartum period (61-365 days after childbirth). Visits among nonpostpartum women were assessed during time periods of equivalent duration.Almost 24% of postpartum women had a problem visit in the early postpartum period, compared with 19.7% of nonpostpartum women (adjusted difference 4.8 percentage points [95% CI 4.6-5.0]). Approximately 3% of postpartum women had an early ED visit, more than double the percentage among nonpostpartum women (adjusted difference 2.3 percentage points [95% CI 2.2-2.4]). Both problem visits and ED visits among postpartum women remained elevated relative to nonpostpartum women during the postpartum and extended postpartum periods. Although postpartum women were more likely than nonpostpartum women to receive preventive care during the early and postpartum periods, only 43% of postpartum women had a preventive visit during the extended postpartum period, a rate 1.8 (95% CI -2.1 to -1.5) percentage points lower than that of nonpostpartum women. Adjusted hospitalization rates among postpartum women in the early (0.8%), postpartum (0.3%), and extended postpartum (1.4%) periods were higher than those of nonpostpartum women (0.1%, 0.2%, and 1.6%, respectively).Commercially insured postpartum women use more health care than nonpostpartum women, including inpatient care. Differences are largest in the early postpartum period and persist beyond 60 days postpartum.

Rural infants are less likely than urban infants to celebrate their first birthday. This tragic fact motivated Dr Deborah Ehrenthal et al1 to employ a social ecological framework to assess predictors of rural–urban disparities in infant mortality. Published in this issue of Pediatrics , their analysis revealed a stark reality in rural America. Infants living in rural, micropolitan counties (places where there is a town of at least 10 000 but not more than 50 000 people) had 26% higher chances of death before age 1, and those in noncore counties (less populated, more remote rural areas with no town with a population greater than 10 000) had a 32% higher chance of infant mortality, compared with urban counties. Dr Ehrenthal et al1 examined what explained these differences and found that it was not individual risk behaviors or health systems factors (although both of these differed across the rural–urban continuum) but rather a broad measure of community socioeconomic advantage that best explained these disparities. The structural injustices that shape individual risk and … Address correspondence to Katy Backes Kozhimannil, PhD, MPA, Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, 420 Delaware St SE, MMC 729, Minneapolis, MN 55455. E-mail: kbk{at}umn.edu

Background In the United States, the population of incarcerated women has increased by more than 600% since the 1980s. With this rise, correctional facilities have faced new challenges meeting the health care needs of women, especially those who are pregnant. This retrospective cohort study sought to describe five indicators of maternal and neonatal health among women who gave birth in custody, and to compare outcomes among incarcerated women who did and did not receive enhanced pregnancy support. Methods We used deidentified electronic health records (EHRs) to examine maternal and neonatal birth outcomes (ie, mode of birth, low birthweight, preterm birth, APGAR score, NICU admission) among women who gave birth in custody. Regression models examined differences in outcomes between women who received enhanced pregnancy support—group prenatal education and one‐on‐one doula visits—and a historical control group of women who received standard prenatal care. Results Adverse maternal and neonatal birth outcomes in this sample were rare. No differences in outcomes were found between incarcerated women who received enhanced pregnancy support and the historical control group. Conclusions Despite evidence for the benefits of enhanced pregnancy support in the general population, this study did not find differences in outcomes between incarcerated women who did and did not receive support. Integrated data from prison and hospital records are innovative, but effect measurement is limited by sample size. Future research should include primary data collection on maternal, neonatal, and dyadic outcomes longitudinally and across prisons.

This study examines racial and ethnic differences in self-rated health among rural residents and whether these differences can be explained by socio-demographic characteristics. We used data from the 2011-2017 National Health Interview Survey to assess differences in self-rated health by race and ethnicity among rural residents (living in non-metropolitan counties; n = 46,883). We used logistic regression analyses to estimate the odds of reporting fair/poor health after adjusting for individual socio-demographic characteristics. Non-Hispanic Black and American Indian rural residents reported worse self-rated health than their non-Hispanic White counterparts (25.8% and 20.8% reporting fair/poor health, respectively, vs. 14.8%; p 0.001). After adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics, disparities remained for non-Hispanic Black rural residents (Adjusted Odds Ratio = 1.55; 95% CI 1.36, 1.76). This study suggests more attention is required to address inequities among rural people and to develop policies to address structural racism and improve the health of all rural residents.

Insurance churn, or moving between different insurance plans or between insurance and uninsurance, is common during the perinatal period. We used survey data from the 2012-17 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System to estimate the impact of Affordable Care Act-related state Medicaid expansions on continuity of insurance coverage for low-income women across three time points: preconception, delivery, and postpartum. We found that Medicaid expansion resulted in a 10.1-percentage-point decrease in churning between insurance and uninsurance, representing a 28 percent decrease from the prepolicy baseline in expansion states. This decrease was driven by a 5.8-percentage-point increase in the proportion of women who were continuously insured and a 4.2-percentage-point increase in churning between Medicaid and private insurance. Medicaid expansion improved insurance continuity in the perinatal period for low-income women, which may improve the quality of perinatal health care, but it also increased churning between public and private health insurance.

Objectives: The prevalence of opioid use disorder continues to rise in the United States, with a simultaneous increase in the diagnosis of both opioid use disorder during pregnancy and neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome. Despite these increases in pregnancy-related care, little is known about hospital policy and policy implementation related to opioid use disorder in pregnancy. In addition, it is unknown whether policies might differ in rural or urban hospitals. To better examine these issues, Minnesota hospitals were surveyed regarding the existence and implementation of policies related to opioid use disorder in pregnancy and whether any policy implementation challenges had been identified. Methods: From August to December 2017, the research team contacted all Minnesota hospitals that offered obstetric services ( n = 82) to survey challenges to implementing policies for opioid use disorder during pregnancy, among other questions. Fifty-nine hospitals had respondents (primarily obstetric department supervisors) who provided information about policy implementation challenges for a 72% response rate. Qualitative responses were analyzed using qualitative description and according to hospital location: metropolitan (urban), micropolitan (rural), or non-core (rural). Results: Ninety-one percent of respondents said that they had pregnancies affected by opioid use disorder at their hospital within the last year. Four major challenges to policy implementation were identified in qualitative responses: (1) provider consensus, (2) patient response to policy, (3) lack of resources, and (4) low frequency of occurrence. All four challenges were more frequently identified by respondents at rural hospitals compared to urban hospitals. Conclusion: This study identified challenges in standardizing hospital care for pregnancies affected by opioid use disorder, and these challenges were identified more frequently in rural locations. These non-urban hospitals may require increased state and federal support and funding.

This study describes hospital-based obstetric service losses in rural US counties between 2014 and 2018 overall and by county population and urban adjacency.

Regionalization of health care, when purposefully designed, aims to improve the quality and safety of health care delivery by directing patients to facilities with optimal resources and experience for their particular health needs.1 Although strong evidence supports regionalized care for cardiac arrest and stroke, trauma, and neonatal intensive care, considerably less is known about the regionalization of care for children with common medical conditions.1,2 In this issue of Pediatrics , Cushing et al’s3 article, “Trends in Regionalization of Emergency Care for Common Pediatric Conditions,” examines national rates of admission, interhospital transfer, and referral for children with gastroenteritis, asthma, and croup. Analyzing the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample from 2008 to 2016, Cushing et al3 found decreasing rates of admission at the hospitals where children presented for care, a slight increase (0.3%) in transfers for asthma, and unchanged transfer rates for croup and gastroenteritis. However, they identified significant increases in interhospital referral rates, which they defined as the number of children with each condition who were transferred to another hospital divided by the total number of children who were admitted or transferred. The authors use this outcome as an indicator of referral for “definitive … Address correspondence to JoAnna Leyenaar, MD, PhD, MPH, Department of Pediatrics, The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, 1 Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 03756. E-mail: joanna.k.leyenaar{at}hitchcock.org

Gaps and transitions (disruptions) in perinatal insurance coverage disproportionately affect indigenous, Hispanic, and black non-Hispanic women., OBJECTIVE: To measure the association between race–ethnicity and insurance status at preconception, delivery, and postpartum and the frequency of insurance gaps and transitions (disruptions) across these time points. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of survey data from 107,921 women in 40 states participating in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Pregnancy Risk Assessment and Monitoring System from 2015 to 2017. We calculated unadjusted estimates of insurance status at preconception, delivery, and postpartum and continuity across these time points for seven racial–ethnic categories (white non-Hispanic, black non-Hispanic, indigenous, Asian or Pacific Islander, Hispanic Spanish-speaking, Hispanic English-speaking, and mixed race or other). We also examined unadjusted estimates of uninsurance at each perinatal time period by state of residence. We calculated adjusted differences in the predicted probability of uninsurance at preconception, delivery, and postpartum using logistic regression models with interaction terms for race–ethnicity and income. RESULTS: For each perinatal time point, all categories of racial–ethnic minority women experienced higher rates of uninsurance than white non-Hispanic women. From preconception to postpartum, 75.3% (95% CI 74.7–75.8) of white non-Hispanic women had continuous insurance compared with 55.4% of black non-Hispanic women (95% CI 54.2–56.6), 49.9% of indigenous women (95% CI 46.8–53.0) and 20.5% of Hispanic Spanish-speaking women (95% CI 18.9–22.2). In adjusted models, lower-income Hispanic women and indigenous women had a significantly higher predicted probability of uninsurance in the preconception and postpartum period compared with white non-Hispanic women. CONCLUSION: Disruptions in perinatal insurance coverage disproportionately affect indigenous, Hispanic, and black non-Hispanic women. Differential insurance coverage may have important implications for racial–ethnic disparities in access to perinatal care and maternal–infant health.

Background A recent document by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine introduced the concept of uniform levels of maternal care (LMCs). Objective We assessed LMC across hospitals and measured their association with maternal morbidity, focusing on women with high-risk conditions. Study Design We collected data from hospitals from May to November 2015 and linked survey responses to Statewide Inpatient Databases (SID) hospital discharge data in a retrospective cross-sectional study of 247,383 births admitted to 236 hospitals. Generalized logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between hospitals' LMC and the risk of severe maternal morbidity. Stratified analyses were conducted among women with high-risk conditions. Results High-risk pregnancies were more likely to be managed in hospitals with higher LMC (p Conclusion A higher proportion of high-risk pregnancies were managed within level IV units, although there was no overall evidence that these births had superior outcomes. Further prospective evaluation of LMC designation with patient outcomes is necessary to determine the impact of regionalization on maternal outcomes.

Purpose: To examine rural–urban differences in motor vehicle fatality (MVF) risk factors. Methods: We used 2017 County Health Rankings data to run stratified regression models to estimate county-level correlates of motor vehicle fatalities (MVFs) by rural and urban location. Results: Rural counties have higher rates of MVFs than urban counties (22 vs. 14 per 100,000, p