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The Impact of TRAP Laws on the Supply of Maternal Healthcare Providers

Pinka Chatterji et al.

Health Economics2026https://doi.org/10.1002/hec.70087article
AJG 3ABDC A*
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0.50

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers (TRAP) laws on the supply and composition of maternal healthcare providers, particularly obstetrician-gynecologists (OB/GYNs). We exploit the staggered enactment of TRAP laws across U.S. states from 2010 to 2021 using a propensity score matching and stacked difference-in-differences approach. Our analytic sample includes physician-, county- and state-level measures of OB/GYN supply, newly graduated OB/GYNs, medical school and residency program applicants, nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) who practice women's healthcare, as well as advanced practice nurse midwives. TRAP law enactment is associated with a statistically significant reduction of 2.09 in OB/GYN supply per 100,000 females aged 15-44 (6.6% relative to the baseline). This decline is particularly pronounced among OB/GYNs aged 55-64. For OB/GYNs under 34, the estimates suggest a decline but this finding should be interpreted cautiously given pre-trends. TRAP laws also are associated with a reduction in the supply of newly graduated OB/GYNs from lower-ranked medical schools. We find no evidence that NPs, PAs, or midwives substitute for the decline in OB/GYNs. Mechanism analyses provide suggestive evidence that the supply contraction operates through exit rather than relocation. These findings highlight unintended consequences of abortion restrictions on broader maternal healthcare provision.

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https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/hec.70087

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@article{pinka2026,
  title        = {{The Impact of TRAP Laws on the Supply of Maternal Healthcare Providers}},
  author       = {Pinka Chatterji et al.},
  journal      = {Health Economics},
  year         = {2026},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/hec.70087},
}

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The Impact of TRAP Laws on the Supply of Maternal Healthcare Providers

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Evidence weight

0.50

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20
M · momentum0.50 × 0.15 = 0.07
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

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