Availability of higher-level neonatal care in rural and urban US hospitals

JAMA Network Open

2026-02-12

(Press-News.org) About The Study: The findings of this cohort study suggest that access to higher-level neonatal care is limited at rural birth hospitals, as less than 20% offered this care in 2022 vs 74% of urban hospitals. While rural hospitals are losing childbirth care capacity, urban birth hospitals are expanding higher-level neonatal care, accentuating geographic discrepancies in access to care for high-risk infants.

Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Katy B. Kozhimannil, PhD, MPA, email kbk@umn.edu.

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(doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.59680)

Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

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About JAMA Network Open: JAMA Network Open is an online-only open access general medical journal from the JAMA Network. On weekdays, the journal publishes peer-reviewed clinical research and commentary in more than 40 medical and health subject areas. Every article is free online from the day of publication.

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Availability of higher-level neonatal care in rural and urban US hospitals

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