Georgia hospital to end birthing services, cites Medicaid cuts 

Athens, Ga.-based St. Mary’s Health Care System has shared plans to end labor and delivery services at St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital in Lavonia, Ga., and consolidate them with those at its St. Mary’s Hospital in Athens, due to continued “significant challenges.”

St. Mary’s Medical Group will also end care at Lavonia-based Clear Creek OB-GYN. The transitions will occur in late October. 

“This decision follows an extensive 18-month discernment process that included intensive efforts to recruit additional physicians, create new partnerships and pursue incremental funding sources,” according to a news release shared with Becker’s. “Changing demographics in our region, physician recruitment challenges, increasing outmigration for labor and delivery services, and recent Congressional cuts to Medicaid solidified this decision.”

Sacred Heart has also delivered “significantly fewer than one baby a day” for the past few years, a trend that is continuing downward, a spokesperson for the system said in a statement shared with Becker’s.

St. Mary’s is working to support employees and patients through the transition. Impacted employees who wish to continue employment with St. Mary’s will also be supported in finding other positions. 

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