‘Deeply concerning’: experts react to ‘shocking’ women’s health report

The US healthcare system urgently needs to change, experts have warned after a damning report revealed that women’s health is in a “perilous” place.

A new report from the Commonwealth Fund has found that growing inequalities across the US are putting women’s health “under threat”, causing higher cancer rates and preventable deaths.

The report, which ranks states based on 32 indicators, ranging from insurance coverage to breast and cervical cancer to Covid-19, found that south-eastern states – most of which now have near-total abortion bans – ranked at the bottom on a wide range of women’s health indicators.

The “shocking” findings, experts have said, highlight that the healthcare system needs to change.

“The maternal mortality rate in the United States is the highest of any developed country in the world and the south-eastern states have some of the highest maternal mortality rates in the nation,” Lucienne Ide, medical doctor and founder of the clinical management platform Rimidi, told Femtech World.

“These statistics are shocking and indicate it is time to try something new – to implement technology-based tools and resources to drive improvements in access and outcomes.”

Digital health capabilities, Ide said, could pave the way for a “meaningful shift” in healthcare delivery, patient engagement and clinical outcomes.

“Virtual solutions like remote patient monitoring (RPM) and chronic disease management could significantly enhance present-day maternal and infant care across the country.”

Monica Cepak, CEO of the telehealth medical abortion service Wisp, said: “This study not only raises awareness on the barriers women face receiving proper healthcare, but it also encourages improvements in policies and practices to better support women’s health across the country.

“There is so much work to be done to improve women’s healthcare, one being access to, and integration of, telehealth services.”

The Commonwealth Fund report found that states that tended to perform worst had not expanded Medicaid and had fewer healthcare providers overall, particularly OB/GYNs.

Poor performing states also tended to miss opportunities to identify and treat women at risk. They screened fewer women for postpartum depression, had higher rates of syphilis and higher rates of cancer.

Rachel Goldberg, perinatal mental health therapist and founder of Rachel Goldberg Therapy, said this is not surprising.

“Disparities in maternal mental healthcare have been an ongoing issue. The report emphasises that mental health is the number one risk factor, yet for many, it is neither accessible nor easy to navigate,” she told Femtech World.

“Even in California, where insurance benefits are more inclusive, there is a shortage of qualified mental health providers in the maternal health space due to fee structures and the complexities of working with health insurance.”

Goldberg believes women living in states with poor health outcomes and limited access to care need to learn to advocate for themselves.

“Unfortunately, this involves researching available resources; but also trusting their instincts,” she explained. “If a provider does not feel right, women should speak up and request a reassignment or advocate for a single-case agreement with a provider they feel comfortable with.

“They should also look into community health centres, telemedicine options and support groups. Traveling to neighbouring states for care might also be a consideration if feasible and safe.”

Dr Shahin Ghadir, board certified reproductive endocrinologist and fertility expert at HRC Fertility Beverly Hills, said it is important that women who live in poor performing states do their research and are extra careful on the quality of the physician and the hospital they choose.

“Being proactive about women’s healthcare is one of the most important aspects of receiving good care in our country, and even if a patient is not in a state that has the utmost highest standards of care, there are still good physicians everywhere.”