PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA — A new national report is sounding the alarm on maternal and infant health in the United States, warning that widening disparities, policy uncertainty, and access shortages are pushing the system toward a breaking point.
ProgenyHealth, LLC recently released its 2026 trends and insights report, titled Policy, Peril & Possibilities, identifying five emerging forces reshaping maternal and infant care and what they signal for the industry’s future.
The report describes the U.S. as facing a maternal and infant health emergency, noting that the nation has the highest maternal mortality rate among high-income countries. According to the analysis, outcomes are being driven by a convergence of factors including health inequities, reproductive health restrictions, workforce shortages, hospital closures, and shifting federal policy.
“Amid a complex and rapidly changing healthcare landscape, industry leaders would benefit from forging new paths, maximizing resources, actively countering misinformation, and mobilizing their organization and partners to meet the needs of patients, families and communities,” said Susan Torroella, ProgenyHealth’s chief executive officer. “The pressures are real, but a clear path lies ahead.”
Among its key findings, the report warns that maternal mental health-related deaths now exceed deaths from any other cause, with 96% of people capable of giving birth living in areas experiencing shortages of mental health professionals. It also highlights the continued closure of maternity services in rural America, with 27 facilities shutting down in 2025 alone, forcing providers and insurers to rethink how perinatal and postpartum care is delivered.
Financial pressures are also intensifying. Rising insurance premiums, escalating hospital costs, and the long-term expense of managing pregnancy-related complications are driving health plans and employers to seek new cost-saving mandates and alternative care models, the report found.
The analysis points to growing uncertainty around vaccines, as fragmented policies and public skepticism complicate infant immunization efforts. A recent survey cited in the report found that up to one-third of Americans question the safety of infant vaccine protocols.
The report also flags potential coverage gaps tied to federal policy disputes, noting that the 2025 federal government shutdown — the longest in U.S. history — centered in part on expiring Affordable Care Act marketplace subsidies. Despite heightened awareness, the report notes no legislative resolution has been enacted.
“The ongoing maternal and infant health crisis is forcing both collaboration and clarity across the industry,” said Madeline Szabo, senior vice president of clinical operations at ProgenyHealth. “While the statistics are daunting, and the pressures are real, we are currently experiencing a reimagining of what maternal and infant health can look like.”
ProgenyHealth said the report is intended to help health plans, providers, and policymakers identify priority areas with the greatest potential impact, emphasizing coordinated care, technology-driven solutions, and early intervention.
The full 2026 Policy, Peril & Possibilities report is available through the ProgenyHealth Knowledge Center at https://www.progenyhealth.com/resources/.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.