July 23, 2025

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Ohio Rural Hospitals Face Medicaid Cuts Threatening Maternity Care

Ohio’s rural maternity wards are bracing for steep Medicaid cuts under the federal reconciliation bill passed this summer. The $1 trillion package imposes new work requirements and trims provider taxes, imperiling small hospitals already operating on razor-thin margins.

Four of the 11 at-risk facilities still offer labor and delivery, including Wayne HealthCare in Greenville (where 45% of maternity services rely on Medicaid), Southern Ohio Medical Center in Portsmouth, Fayette County Regional Medical Center, and Galion Community Hospital (linked to Bucyrus Community Hospital). With Medicaid covering 39% of Ohio births and nearly half in rural areas, advocates warn the cuts could force more closures, widen care deserts and drive up maternal and infant health risks.

North Carolina Abortion Restrictions Prompt Women to Delay Childbirth

North Carolina’s tighter abortion rules are prompting a growing number of women to postpone or reconsider having children. Three years after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the state now bans abortions after 12 weeks—down from 20—and imposes new requirements such as an in-person counseling visit and a 72-hour waiting period.

Women cite logistical hurdles, anxiety over fetal-anomaly exceptions, and federal uncertainty around mifepristone as factors in their choice to put off pregnancy. Experts warn this “chilling effect” may further depress the national birthrate alongside high childcare costs and expanding maternity-care deserts.

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Tennessee’s New Ethics Law Blocks Unmarried Women from Prenatal Care

JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. — Under Tennessee’s Medical Ethics Defense Act, signed April 24, a local physician refused to provide prenatal care to an unmarried woman—even though she’s been with her partner for 15 years and already parents a 13-year-old. Denied on religious grounds, she now travels to Virginia for routine checkups, fearful she may deliver back home with a provider who sees her child as “less valuable.”

Key points:

The law protects doctors, hospitals and insurers from legal or professional penalties when they opt out of treatments that conflict with their faith.

Supporters say it defends conscience rights and addresses physician “moral injury,” while critics warn it undermines patient-centered care and could harm LGBTQ+ and reproductive health access.

Health experts urge early prenatal visits—ideally by 8–12 weeks gestation—and recommend exploring out-of-state options, Medicaid support and community clinics.

Iowa City Miracle: World’s Most Premature Baby Survives

IOWA CITY, Iowa — When Nash Keen arrived on July 5, 2024 at only 21 weeks gestation—just 133 days premature—doctors at University of Iowa HealthCare warned his chance of survival was effectively zero. Against the odds, the tiny infant, weighing less than a can of soda, fought through 11 months of specialized neonatal care to become the world’s most premature baby to survive, earning a Guinness World Record.

Key highlights:

Born at a size and age previously deemed incompatible with life.

Supported by a dedicated NICU team led by Dr. Amy Stanford and Dr. Patrick McNamara.

Marked his first birthday as a milestone of hope for families facing preterm labor.

This record-setting survival underscores advances in neonatology and the importance of early prenatal monitoring and high-quality NICU resources.

American Idol Alum’s Daughter Diagnosed With Rare Infantile Spasms

Emmy Russell, granddaughter of country legend Loretta Lynn and former American Idol contestant, and her husband Tyler Ward revealed that their infant daughter, Taylor Raydiant, has been diagnosed with infantile spasms—a rare form of epilepsy affecting roughly 1 in 2,000 babies. After spotting small seizure-like spasms and an overnight hospital stay, doctors confirmed the condition but found normal MRI results, allowing the family to take Taylor home.

The couple shared that Taylor will begin a two-week medication regimen and return for follow-up EEG testing. With early treatment offering about a 50/50 chance of positive developmental outcomes, Russell and Ward thanked supporters and asked for continued prayers as they navigate this challenging diagnosis.

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Iowa City Miracle: Baby Born at 21 Weeks Sets Guinness World Record