Oregon Sen. Wyden proposes legislation to preserve rural maternal care

The federal bill follows last year’s closure of the only hospital birth center in Baker City that served large swath of rural eastern Oregon.

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden is pushing for a pathway for rural hospitals to continue to provide maternal care in small communities.

Wyden, D-Oregon, on Monday released a draft bill that outlines a series of financial incentives to encourage hospitals to continue to offer birth services. The bill includes higher Medicaid rates and additional payments to cover the cost of on-call staff for expectant mothers in small communities with low numbers of births.

Source: Oregon Sen. Wyden proposes legislation to preserve rural maternal care  • Oregon Capital Chronicle