TL/DR –
Almost half of Wyoming’s counties lack a practicing obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN), affecting around 16,300 women of reproductive age who must seek prenatal and delivery care elsewhere, according to a recent Wyoming Department of Health assessment. The same study found that six out of 23 counties also lack a delivery facility, increasing travel times for pregnant women. The situation is raising concerns about higher risks for dangerous complications related to pregnancy and childbirth, prompting calls for lawmakers to address the issue.
Wyoming Faces Maternity Care Access Issue
Almost half of Wyoming’s counties, 11 out of 23, lack an OB-GYN practitioner, according to a recent assessment by the Wyoming Department of Health. This forces residents to seek prenatal and delivery care outside their counties. Approximately 16,300 women of reproductive age are living in counties without an obstetrician.
Simultaneously, 6 out of 23 Wyoming counties lack a delivery facility, complicating access to care for expectant mothers. This scenario puts mothers and babies in danger of potential complications from pregnancy and childbirth due to the deteriorating maternity care landscape in Wyoming.
Legislative Intervention Needed
Jen Davis, Health and Human Service Policy Director under Governor Mark Gordon, has called for legislative attention to improve access to OB care. She highlighted the issue’s impact on economic development, as a lack of maternity care services hinders recruitment of young families. Lawmakers have shown concerns but have yet to set interim topics for discussion.
Dwindling Birthing Facilities and Obstetricians
Over the past decade, Wyoming has lost 3 birthing facilities, leaving only 18 across its 23 counties. The number of obstetricians has also declined, due to several challenges, including burdensome on-call schedules, recruitment difficulties, and aging practitioners.
Increased Reliance on EMS Services
As maternity care services become scarce, reliance on EMS services for obstetric and neonatal care has increased, with 640 such requests logged in 2023. Davis found the high EMS reliance alarming and expressed concerns about the simultaneous fragility of the OB and EMS systems, both critical yet heavily interdependent.
National Issue
The problem is not limited to Wyoming. A study by the Center for Quality Healthcare and Payment Reform found that more than half of U.S. rural hospitals no longer offer birthing services. This maternity care crisis is expected to worsen in the coming years.
Exploring Solutions
Davis and others are urging lawmakers to address this critical issue by studying the situation and exploring potential solutions. The OB Subcommittee under Governor Gordon’s Task Force is in the process of gathering information and will soon distribute a survey to hospitals to better understand the number of providers and access to care.
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