Obstetric services became increasingly unavailable at U.S. hospitals from 2010 through 2024, with 718 hospitals losing services through obstetric unit or hospital closures, according to a September 2026 report from the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center.
Here are five things to know:
- Of 5,019 short-term acute care hospitals open at any point from 2010 through 2024, 718, or 14.3%, lost obstetric services.
- By 2024, 49.1% of U.S. hospitals did not provide obstetric services. The share was 57.5% among rural hospitals and 43.6% among urban hospitals. More than half of U.S. counties similarly lack a hospital with labor and delivery services, affecting nearly 370,000 births annually.
- Between 2023 and 2024, 67 hospitals lost obstetric services, including 25 rural hospitals and 42 urban hospitals. Only six hospitals gained obstetric services during that period. A separate analysis found at least 96 publicly reported labor and delivery unit closures across 35 states from January 2024 through May 2026.
- Nearly 36,000 births occurred in 2023 at hospitals that lost obstetric services the following year, including nearly 7,000 births at rural hospitals and 29,000 at urban hospitals.
- Of the 718 hospitals that lost obstetric services from 2010 through 2024, 145, or 20.2%, also closed by 2024. That included 46 rural hospitals and 99 urban hospitals.
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.
