Labor And Delivery Services Closing In Rural Georgia Hospitals

Born Far From Home:  Fewer Rural Hospitals Delivering Babies by Andy Miller.  Georgia Health News.  January 28, 2013.

With 60 percent of births in Georgia every year covered by Medicaid it is important that the reimbursement rate for births cover hospital and physician costs.  Georgia OB/GYNs have not had a Medicaid pay increase in more than a decade.  In addition it is difficult to recruit OB/GYNs, in general, and for rural areas in particular.  There are only five obstetric residency program in Georgia.  There are 40 counties in Georgia with no OB/GYN.  This is a significant overview of a significant healthcare problem in Georgia.