What is Plumas District Hospital doing to bring back maternity care?

Plumas District Hospital, which closed its maternity ward in 2022, is planning to open a birth center and standby maternity unit next year to provide more options for expectant mothers in the remote Sierra Nevada region.

How are new state laws helping rural California hospitals offer maternity services?

Two recent state laws are giving rural hospitals more flexibility to provide birth services, including a pilot program for "standby" maternity units and relaxed licensing requirements for birth centers run by midwives.

Why did Emily Meyers have to drive 2 hours to Reno, Nevada to deliver her son in 2022?

Meyers lived in the remote town of Greenville, California, where the nearest hospitals with maternity wards were over 70 miles away. When her water broke 5 weeks early, she had to race to Reno as the closest option, resulting in her son being born in the car.

Home / Health / Rural California Hospitals Innovate to Bring Back Maternity Care

Rural California Hospitals Innovate to Bring Back Maternity Care

13 Nov

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Summary

Plumas District Hospital closed maternity ward in 2022 but now plans to open birth center and standby maternity unit
New state laws allow rural hospitals to offer more flexible maternity services
Families in remote areas often face long drives to reach hospitals with delivery services

Rural California Hospitals Innovate to Bring Back Maternity Care

As of November 2025, rural hospitals in California are taking steps to restore maternity care services that have been disappearing across the state. Plumas District Hospital, which closed its maternity ward in 2022 due to declining birth rates and high operating costs, is now planning to open a new birth center and standby maternity unit next year.

This change is made possible by two recent state laws that give rural hospitals more flexibility in how they offer birth services. One law creates a 10-year pilot program allowing hospitals to operate "standby" maternity units that only operate when needed, rather than providing 24/7 service. Another law relaxes licensing requirements for birth centers run by midwives.