Federal Programs Affecting Rural Perinatal Health Care

Access to perinatal health care in rural communities often depends on such factors as the availability, cost, and acceptability of services. The federal government has been providing rural perinatal health care both directly and indirectly, through grants for service delivery or research and through direct payment for service. The various federal programs supporting perinatal health care in rural communities are described, and what may need to be done in the future is discussed.