The 75% Barrier: How Insurance Restrictions Are Throttling Maternal Diagnostics

More than 75% of clinicians indicate that insurance reimbursement restrictions limit their ability to prescribe advanced maternal-fetal monitoring tools.

Boston MA -- October 8: Frontline obstetricians are increasingly trapped between evolving standards of care and antiquated utilization management protocols.

The Women's Health Infrastructure Report 2026 reveals that access to cutting-edge maternal-fetal diagnostics is being heavily throttled by payer policy and reimbursement structures, rather than clinical hesitancy.

When asked to what extent reimbursement limitations dictate their clinical choices, exactly half (50%) of respondents indicated it restricts them "a lot," while an additional 27% said it limits them "somewhat". Only 10% reported that these payer policies do not impact their prescribing ability much at all.

"Electronic fetal monitoring hasn't fundamentally changed in 50 years. Right now, monitors leave clinicians in an ambiguous middle zone for 75% of moms in labor where we simply don't have actionable data. That diagnostic gray area drives unnecessary C-sections - increasing maternal mortality risk threefold-and unanticipated NICU admissions."

Kate Arnold

Program Manager, ARPA-H

This finding represents just one of dozens of insights uncovered through the Women's Health Infrastructure Report 2026, a cross-sector study bringing together perspectives from health plans, providers, employers, clinicians, life sciences organisations and innovators.

The full report features detailed findings, expert commentary, benchmark data and practical implications for healthcare leaders looking to understand where women's health is heading next.

Lead Research Partner