• Georgia: According to a new CDC report, the mean age of all U.S. mothers giving birth has reached almost 30 years old, going from 28.7 years in 2016 to 29.6 years in 2023. The average age of new first-time moms also increased during this time, going from 26.6 years in 2016 to 27.5 years in 2023. Jessica Shepherd, a board-certified ob/gyn and CMO at Hers, said several factors contributed to this shift, including technological improvements and changes in social expectations and values. Rising childcare costs may also be contributing to people's decision to wait to have children. Data from the Department of Labor shows that the median cost of childcare in the United States ranged from $6,552 to $15,600 a year in 2022. "[This] is likely creating pressure on families to wait for financial stability before conceiving and to time second, third and more pregnancies in light of affordability," said Jessica Holzer, an associate professor at the University of New Haven. (Moniuszko, CBS News, 6/13; O'Connell-Domenech, The Hill, 6/13)
• Texas: Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company is partnering with 9amHealth to make obesity medications more affordable for self-insured employers. Through the partnership, GLP-1 drugs will be offered at fixed monthly costs with variable cost share through 9amHealth's manufacturer partnerships. Member enrollees will also be able to access 9amHealth's team of providers, home lab testing, and delivery services. "At Cost Plus Drugs, our commitment to transparent drug pricing has always been unwavering, and with clinical leaders in obesity like 9amHealth, we are dedicated to providing affordable and accessible healthcare solutions for patients with cardiometabolic conditions," said Alex Oshmyansky, CEO of Cost Plus Drugs. "Our collaboration gives employers a way to provide expert medical management of obesity, without the massive price tag," said Paul Geevarghese, COO and cofounder of 9amHealth. (Tong, Fierce Healthcare, 6/18)
• Washington: Amazon Health Services is planning to restructure its organization, with six new divisions and leaders to be appointed. Andrew Diamond, who has been with One Medical since 2007, will lead clinical care delivery while Suzanne Hansen will oversee provider operations and performance. John Singerling will lead a strategic growth and network development unit, Prakash Bulusu will lead a store, tech, and marketing division, Kim Otte will lead compliance services, and John Love will lead the pharmacy business, which he has overseen since 2022. According to Neil Lindsay, SVP of Amazon Health Services, the restructuring is a natural evolution of the business. "Our leadership team has been focused on simplifying our structure to move faster and continue to innovate effectively," Lindsay said. "One of the problems we're trying to solve is the fragmented experience for patients and customers that's common in healthcare." Aside from the restructuring, Amazon has also seen a shake up of its healthcare leadership in recent weeks, with its CMO Sunita Mishra and VP of healthcare Aaron Martin both leaving the company. (Fox, Healthcare IT News, 6/16)

Maternal and reproductive healthcare is rapidly changing. Health leaders must grapple with worsening maternal health disparities, the nationwide maternal mental health crisis, lasting impacts of the Dobbs v. Jackson  ruling, and the rise of femtech disruptors. These drivers bring opportunities and challenges for maternal and reproductive health leaders progressing towards holistic, appropriate, and accessible care for all. Explore our report to learn about these four key drivers reshaping maternal and reproductive healthcare delivery.