Sustaining Rural Labor & Delivery Programs: Strategies & Considerations

Over the past decade, more than 500 rural hospitals have discontinued Labor & Delivery services, often driven by financial and operational pressures.  This webinar focuses on a different approach. Rather than assuming closure is inevitable, it explores how rural hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) can take a more accurate, strategic view of Labor & Delivery program sustainability. Drawing on real-world case studies, this session will walk through practical strategies to better understand financial performance, uncover missed reimbursement opportunities, and identify operational models that improve long-term viability. Attendees leave with a clearer framework for evaluating their Labor & Delivery programs, not just through a profitability lens, but through contribution margin, community impact, and strategic value. This work was supported by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), under PHS Grant No. U27RH01080. The information, conclusions and opinions expressed in this document are those of the authors and no endorsement by FORHP, HRSA, or HHS is intended or should be inferred.