Warner, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Limit Closure of Labor and Delivery Services in Rural, Underserved Hospitals

Are Virginia Senator Mark Warner and some of his colleagues at the federal level coming to the aid of often rural-based, smaller communities like the Town of Front Royal and Warren County regarding reduced availability of Maternity services locally? It would appear that way in the wake of a press release from Senator Warner’s office on Thursday, September 26. With the recently expanding dissatisfaction with Valley Health’s decision not to include Obstetrics and Maternity services in the new Warren Memorial Hospital the proposed legislation is very timely locally.

And while the proposed additional funding is Medicaid, which everyone doesn’t have, based, it appears the financial support being offered to health care providers through the Medicaid system would benefit a community’s entire expectant mother population with those funds keeping birthing and pre and post-natal care units open locally for all women in a community to access. Royal Examiner will trace the proposed legislation’s developmental journey through Congress as additional information becomes available.

Below is the September 26 press release in its entirety with Senator Warner’s observation about the trend toward reduced pregnancy and delivery services impact on Virginia communities, as well as others nationwide:

File photo of Virginia’s U.S. Senator Mark Warner reaching out to his constituents, as he will be in support of Congressional initiative to provide additional funding through Medicaid to keep rural and smaller community birthing and related medical services available locally. – Courtesy Photo Office of Sen. Warner

WASHINGTON – After announcing draft legislation earlier this year, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) joined Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and 16 colleagues in introducing the Keeping Obstetrics Local Act – legislation to address the rising trend of labor and delivery unit closures in rural and underserved hospitals. Legislation would use Medicaid Funding to boost rural hospitals, keep resources in local communities.

“Rural communities need comprehensive access to health care, but in recent years we’ve seen far too many hospitals in these areas struggle to keep their doors open, with expectant mothers bearing the brunt of the impact,” said Sen. Warner. “I’m proud to introduce legislation that will help to ensure rural Virginians retain access to crucial OB-GYN care.”

The Keeping Obstetrics Local Act (KOLA) would increase Medicaid payment rates for labor and delivery services at eligible hospitals in rural and high-need urban areas; provide “standby” payments to cover the costs of staffing and maintaining an obstetrics unit at low-volume hospitals; create low-volume payment adjustments for labor and delivery services at hospitals with low birth volumes; and require all states to provide postpartum coverage for women in Medicaid for 12 months, among other steps. The bill would make sure that hospitals are required to use these additional resources to invest in the maternal health care needs of the local communities they serve.