A NY hospital tried to close its birthing center. This city united to fight back

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Published: 2026-09-01T09:05:17.721Z • Permanent link

Cathleen Pugh, a Democrat and healthcare advocate, was instrumental in rallying her community against the proposed closure of St. Mary's Birthing Center in Troy, New York. St. Mary's is part of Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI), a large national health system. In April 2023, CHI announced plans to close the birthing center due to what they claimed were declining birth rates. However, local residents and Democratic officials quickly organized a counter-campaign, arguing that the center was a vital resource for low-income families and women of color.

Catholic Health Initiatives' decision to close the birthing center was met with fierce resistance from the community. Pugh, who had previously served on the city council, mobilized her constituents to voice their opposition to the closure. They pointed out that the center provided essential prenatal care, birthing services, and postpartum support to many families who could not afford other options. According to data from the American Community Survey, Troy has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in the country. By keeping the birthing center open, local residents hoped to mitigate this trend.

Sara Lofgren, a Republican state senator from Troy, joined forces with Pugh to push back against CHI's decision. Lofgren argued that the birthing center was a critical resource for the community, particularly for low-income families and families of color. She pointed out that CHI's decision to close the center would disproportionately affect these populations, who often lack access to healthcare services. Lofgren also highlighted the financial benefits of keeping the birthing center open, noting that it would help to reduce healthcare costs in the long run.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlights the importance of community-based birthing centers like St. Mary's. According to the CDC, community-based birthing centers can provide essential prenatal care and birthing services to underserved populations. By keeping the birthing center open, Troy can help to reduce maternal mortality rates and improve health outcomes for women of color and low-income families. This is particularly significant, given that maternal mortality rates are disproportionately high among these populations.

Research from the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) also underscores the importance of community-based birthing centers. According to NACHC, community health centers like St. Mary's play a critical role in providing primary care services, including prenatal care and birthing services, to underserved populations. By keeping the birthing center open, Troy can help to support the broader mission of NACHC and improve health outcomes for women and families.

The decision to close St. Mary's Birthing Center is part of a larger trend of hospital closures and consolidation across the country. According to a report by the Kaiser Family Foundation, nearly 100 hospitals have closed in the United States since 2010. This trend is driven by a combination of factors, including declining patient volume, increased regulatory burdens, and the shift towards value-based payment models. However, the closure of St. Mary's Birthing Center is particularly significant, given the critical role that community-based birthing centers play in providing essential healthcare services to underserved populations.