Services and Payer Mix of Black-serving Hospitals and Related Severe Maternal Morbidity

Abstract

(Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2021;224:605.e1–605.e14) Black-serving hospitals are linked to a greater risk for adverse maternal outcomes. Previous studies on maternal disparities have generally included few hospital factors. In order to understand these disparities more detailed evaluation of hospital factors identified with maternal outcomes may be necessary. This cross-sectional study analyzed detailed attributes of Black-serving hospitals and how these attributes are associated with adverse maternal outcomes. A concomitant objective was to determine the relationship between Black-serving hospitals and risk for severe maternal morbidity (SMM), defined by CDC criteria for organ failure indicators and possible life-threatening illness. It was hypothesized that some of the maternal risk associated with Black-serving hospitals could be accounted for by generally being referral centers for specialized surgical and medical care, having greater Medicaid burdens, and having patients more likely to require safety-net services.