Debbie Meder

Lock Haven

There’s a crisis in maternity health care in rural Pennsylvania. The imminent closure of the obstetrics unit at Penn Highlands Healthcare Elk Hospital leaves six counties — Cameron, Clarion, Clinton, Elk, Forest and McKean — with NO birthing services.

What else do those counties have in common? They’re in the 15th Congressional district, represented by Glenn Thompson.

The lack of maternity health care in Thompson’s district doesn’t reflect population size. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, there are 156,664 people in this maternal healthcare “desert.” That’s four times more people than in Cranberry Township, Butler County, north of Pittsburgh, which is served by four hospitals, including a maternity care unit opened in 2021.

Beyond the immediate risks for pregnant women and their babies (infant mortality rates in McKean are “well beyond” the statewide average), the loss of maternity health care has long-term economic and social consequences.

Lost obstetrics units mean lost jobs–for hospital workers and surrounding businesses. Young people move away–or never move to Pennsylvania’s small towns–accelerating their decline.

Why hasn’t Thompson done anything to avert this crisis!?

He hasn’t been busy passing any kind of legislation. In fact, he’s doing even more to harm pregnant women and families — he co-sponsored a bill affirming that life begins at conception. The bill would ban abortion nationwide, with no exceptions — including no exceptions for in vitro fertilization.

Rural maternity care is in crisis — and crisis demands action. Let’s start by replacing Glenn Thompson.