Washington D.C. – A bipartisan coalition of U.S. Senators, including Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.), has reintroduced the Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act. The legislation aims to support rural healthcare facilities in providing urgent obstetric care by enhancing training, equipment, and teleconsultation services.
The bill would establish programs to train non-specialist healthcare providers in managing obstetric emergencies, offer federal grants for rural hospitals to acquire necessary equipment, and launch a pilot teleconsultation program to facilitate rapid access to maternal health experts during emergencies.
In Alabama, more than one-third of the state’s 67 counties are designated as maternity care deserts, meaning they lack birthing facilities or maternity care providers. Nearly 30% of Alabama women live over 30 minutes away from a birthing hospital, a stark contrast to the national average of less than 10%. Recent hospital closures have further strained access to care, with Shelby and Monroe counties losing labor and delivery services in 2023. Additionally, Alabama has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the nation at 38.6 deaths per 100,000 births.
Senator Britt emphasized the importance of the bill for her constituents, stating, “Alabama women deserve access to high-quality care throughout their pregnancy journeys, no matter their zip code. The Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act would equip rural hospitals with the tools, training, and resources to deliver urgent obstetric care throughout Alabama.”
The bill has garnered bipartisan backing, with Senators from multiple regions advocating for improved rural maternal healthcare. Senator Hassan highlighted the need for equitable care access, saying, “No pregnant woman should struggle to access quality, affordable health care they need because of their zip code. This bipartisan legislation will provide targeted support so that health care facilities in rural New Hampshire and rural communities across the country can get the equipment, training, and resources that they need.”
Similarly, Senator Collins underscored the urgency of addressing labor and delivery unit closures, stating, “By creating new opportunities to improve obstetric readiness in rural communities through skills training, workforce development, and telehealth partnerships, this bipartisan legislation would help reduce care gaps and better ensure that more rural Maine communities have access to the maternal care they need.”
Senator Smith also noted the challenges faced by rural residents, adding, “I’ve heard from Minnesotans who have to drive hours, sometimes in dangerous conditions like Minnesota snowstorms, just to get to care. It is time to invest in preventing these closures that keep rural families from accessing the quality care they need.”
The reintroduction of the Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act aligns with ongoing legislative efforts to address maternal health disparities. Earlier this year, Senator Britt co-led a resolution designating January 23 as Maternal Health Awareness Day, aimed at raising awareness of maternal health challenges.
Additionally, Senator Britt joined Senator Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.) in introducing the NIH IMPROVE Act, which would enhance funding for the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) Implementing a Maternal Health and Pregnancy Outcomes Vision for Everyone (IMPROVE) Initiative. The initiative supports research into maternal mortality causes and promotes improved healthcare outcomes for women before, during, and after pregnancy. Senator Britt also played a role in securing $73.4 million in the Fiscal Year 2025 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for the NIH IMPROVE Initiative.
Furthermore, Senator Britt secured federal funding in the Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations bill to enhance medical services and equipment in Alabama. This included $2.6 million for Helen Keller Hospital, $3.9 million for the City of Talladega’s rural emergency services, $2 million for Atmore Community Hospital, and $2.5 million for additional ambulances for the Huntsville Hospital Health System.
As the Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act moves forward in Congress, its bipartisan support underscores the growing recognition of maternal healthcare challenges in rural America and the need for targeted interventions to improve access and outcomes.
