Over One-Third of U.S. Counties Are Maternity Care Deserts, Report Finds

A new 2026 report by the March of Dimes reveals that 34.6% of U.S. counties are maternity care deserts, lacking hospitals, birth centers, or obstetric clinicians. This critical shortage, which has remained largely unchanged since 2016, is projected to worsen due to anticipated cuts to Medicaid payments and expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies, further challenging rural hospitals.