Virginia is gaining national attention for its progress in maternal health care.
A recent ranking by Newsweek named three Virginia hospitals as among the best in the country, with several other Virginia hospitals close behind. The rankings consider factors such as maternal health outcomes, innovation, and patient experience.
The news of Virginia’s high rankings coincides with a time of significant policy momentum in maternal health spheres at the state level. Since taking office at the start of 2026, Governor Abigail Spanberger has signed several maternal health bills into law. Among these are the Momnibus bills, which focus on expanding healthcare access for the perinatal population. Most recently, Governor Spanberger signed the Paid Family/Maternity Leave law, which will take effect in 2028. This law will allow for new moms and family members to take paid time off to recover and care for their newest additions.
In addition to legislative changes in support of maternal health outcomes and families, more is being done at the level of the state’s perinatal quality collaborative, the Virginia Neonatal Perinatal Collaborative, for education, data transparency, collaboration and quality improvement. As of May 2026, VNPC has released three public-facing data dashboards, which serve as interactive deep dives into data surrounding our quality improvement projects and the state’s Maternal Mortality Review Team. These tools help providers, policymakers, and communities better understand where gaps exist and how to address them.
With Virginia’s maternal healthcare in the spotlight, creating opportunities for providers, public health professionals, nonprofit workers, and community members is crucial in keeping the momentum for the benefit of our moms and babies. AtVNPC, that work happens by bringing people together to learn from one another, share data, and strengthen collaboration across the Commonwealth. VNPC’s 2026 Annual Summit, taking place October 25 to 26, marks a decade of convening leaders to do just that while continuing to drive meaningful progress across Virginia.
VNPC continues to expand its reach through initiatives like the second season of its podcast, Bear Hug Conversations, and the upcoming Maternal Cardiac Quality Improvement project. This new effort will support hospitals in implementing the AIM Obstetric Cardiac Conditions bundle, addressing one of the leading contributors to maternal morbidity.
All these efforts point to a broader shift in the Commonwealth: Virginians are not only investing in access to care, but also in the quality, coordination, and accountability needed to improve outcomes.
More is being done across the state to ensure that every mother and baby has the opportunity for a healthy start. To learn more about VNPC’s work and ongoing initiatives, visit www.govnpc.org.