The Trump administration announced a $120 million federal investment through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services targeting maternal and infant health services in Indiana on Sept. 3.
The investment aims to reduce barriers to primary and behavioral care, strengthen the rural health workforce and expand maternal services in a state that has faced persistent challenges with maternal mortality rates and rural hospital closures.
Maternal mortality in the United States remains significantly higher than in peer nations, and Indiana’s rates have drawn particular scrutiny from public health officials. The $120 million commitment is among the largest single state-level maternal health investments in recent years, according to CMS.
The grant is part of a series of state-by-state rural health investments from CMS designed to address the healthcare access gaps that affect millions of Americans living in rural communities.
For Indiana residents, particularly women in rural areas, the investment targets a crisis that is both immediate and systemic. Rural hospital closures have left many pregnant women driving an hour or more to reach obstetric care — a delay that can be the difference between a routine delivery and a medical emergency.
The behavioral health component of the investment addresses a related challenge. Maternal mental health conditions, including postpartum depression and substance use disorders, are leading contributors to pregnancy-related deaths in the United States.
Indiana has 92 counties, many of which are classified as medically underserved areas by the federal government. The state’s rural workforce shortage extends to obstetricians, midwives, nurses and mental health professionals.