Sign in Subscribe
Legislative bills

Fort Drum Faces History of OB/GYN Staffing Shortages, Relying on Local Hospitals for Maternal Care

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer has secured legislation in the Senate's National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026 to address the long-standing shortage of Obstetrician-Gynecologists (OB/GYNs) at Fort Drum. The legislation requires the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Defense Health Agency (DHA) to create a comprehensive plan to expand OB/GYN care serving Fort Drum and the surrounding Watertown area. Schumer's move comes as part of a nationwide OB/GYN shortage, with particularly low access in rural areas.

Key Takeaways:

  • Fort Drum has a history of relying on local hospitals, such as Samaritan Medical Center and Carthage Area Hospital, for primary health care and specialty care provided by OB/GYNs due to a lack of on-base hospital facilities.
  • The on-base clinic at Fort Drum does not provide maternal health care, forcing soldiers and their families to seek care in the community or travel to distant locations.
  • The shortage of OB/GYN providers on base forces those in need of maternal health care to seek care from local hospitals, which can be spread too thin, leading soldiers and families to travel long distances for care.
  • Schumer's provision in the Senate NDAA requires the DoD and DHA to develop a plan to expand OB/GYN care specifically in the Watertown area and create a comprehensive plan to expand OB/GYN care serving Fort Drum.
  • The provision also directs the Secretary of Defense to brief Congress on the plan by December 1 of this year to ensure timely implementation.

Statistics:

  • 40% of births in the United States are paid for by Medicaid.
  • Labor and delivery units in rural areas are currently closing nationwide due to low reimbursement.
  • The recent GOP cuts to Medicaid will force more rural units to close, exacerbating the already dire situation of limited access to critical OB/GYN care.

Sources:

  • United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer
  • MIL OSI USA News (http://milnz.co.nz/mil-osi-aggregation/) - Copyright 2025 Multimedia Investments Ltd, distributed by Contify.com

Read more