$50 Billion for Rural Health: How the CMS Rural Health Transformation Program Can Close the Maternal Care Gap

Reviewed by Sina Haeri, MD, MHSA, maternal-fetal medicine physician.

In late 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program, a landmark $50 billion initiative to strengthen and modernize healthcare in rural communities across all 50 states.

For anyone working in maternal health, this is a watershed moment. The RHT Program's stated goals — expanding access to care, strengthening the rural health workforce, modernizing technology, and supporting innovative models — map directly to the crisis facing rural maternity care today.

A 2012 workforce analysis found that 98.2% of maternal-fetal medicine subspecialists lived in metropolitan counties with a Level III perinatal center, leaving rural communities without access to the subspecialty care that high-risk pregnancies require.

Rayburn WF, Klagholz JC, Elwell EC, Strunk AL. Maternal-Fetal Medicine Workforce in the United States. Am J Perinatol. 2012;29(9):741-746. Based on the 2010 ACOG membership roster; the distribution may have shifted since.

The Rural Maternal Health Crisis

Between 2011 and 2024, 331 rural hospitals stopped offering obstetric services, roughly a quarter of the country's rural obstetric units. Rural women face significantly higher rates of maternal morbidity and mortality. The RHT Program was designed to break this cycle. But funding alone doesn't solve a workforce shortage. States need partners who can deploy clinical capacity quickly, at scale.

Chartis, 2026 Rural Health State of the State, February 2026. A separate Health Affairs analysis (Kozhimannil et al., 2025) counts 238 rural and 299 urban hospitals losing obstetric services between 2010 and 2022.

Where Ouma Fits

• Expanding Access to Subspecialty Care: Ouma's teleMFM services bring board-certified MFM specialists into rural facilities. Less than 10% of patients typically require transfer to an in-person MFM provider.
• Strengthening the Rural Workforce: Ouma supplements existing teams with nights-and-weekends coverage, reducing burnout and improving physician retention.
• Modernizing Technology: Ouma works within existing EHR systems and requires no additional equipment.
• Supporting Innovative Models: From HEDIS compliance programs to gestational carrier screening, Ouma has a track record of innovative care delivery.

A Proven Track Record

Licensed to practice in all 50 states and Medicaid-enrolled in 20 states as of August 2026, Ouma is already embedded in the communities that the RHT Program aims to serve.

• 46% of prenatal visits led to PPC1 HEDIS compliance
• 80% of postpartum visits led to PPC2 HEDIS compliance
• 32% of patients screened positive for mood disorders and received appropriate follow-up

The Time to Act Is Now

If you're a state health agency, Medicaid program, healthcare system, or FQHC exploring how to deploy RHT funding for maternal health, reach out to our team.