The Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act aims to improve emergency obstetric care in rural areas by establishing training programs, funding equipment purchases, and expanding telehealth services. The bill authorizes $5 million through fiscal year 2027 for training rural healthcare practitioners without dedicated obstetric units to handle pregnancy and delivery emergencies, and provides $15 million through 2028 for rural hospitals to purchase equipment and hire staff needed for obstetric emergency response. An additional $5 million through 2028 supports a pilot program for telehealth consultations connecting rural facilities with maternal health specialists. The legislation targets rural hospitals, critical access hospitals, and rural emergency hospitals located in areas with maternity care shortages, and requires the Department of Health and Human Services to study maternity ward closures and regional care models within three years.
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