LAUSR

Key Points Question What is the extent of care inequality based on the actual delivery hospital and the closest delivery hospital to the birthing individual’s residential zip code centroid? Findings In this cohort study of 6 418 635 birthing individuals from 5 states, American Indian and Black individuals delivered at lower-quality hospitals compared with White individuals, while there was no significant difference for Asian and Hispanic individuals. The disparity between Black and White individuals would have been reduced if all patients had delivered at their nearest hospital. Meaning These findings indicate significant racial disparities in hospital quality, likely reflecting broader issues in health care access and availability.