Michigan Lawmakers Grill Rx Kids Founder Over Cash Program Future
Warren residents who receive cash assistance through Michigan's Rx Kids program could face uncertainty in the next state budget. Lawmakers questioned the program's founder during a legislative hearing in Lansing Tuesday, even as studies show the program has improved health outcomes for children across the state.
The hearing centered on whether Michigan will continue providing state funding to Rx Kids when the next budget is drafted. The program, which gives pregnant women and new parents direct cash payments, has expanded to Oakland County since launching in Flint in 2024. Warren families are among those already enrolled.
The Numbers Behind the Debate
Rx Kids provides $1,500 in cash assistance mid-pregnancy, followed by monthly stipends of $500 for six or 12 months after birth, depending on the community. The program has been funded through a mix of state appropriations and private donations.
In October 2025, the Michigan legislature passed a bipartisan budget investing $250 million over three years to expand Rx Kids. The program has so far raised about $70 million in private funds outside of state money.
Between October 2024 and June 2025, Rx Kids helped 952 applicants with Medicaid across Clare County, Kalamazoo, Oakland County, Pontiac, and the eastern Upper Peninsula, according to program data.
Republican Lawmakers Raise Spending Concerns
During the Tuesday hearing, State Rep. Angela Rigas (R-Caledonia) questioned how parents might use the cash stipends.
"Parents could spend these funds on alcohol, weed and TV's then?" Rigas asked.
Dr. Mona Hanna, Rx Kids founder and director, pushed back during her testimony.
"That's not what we're seeing in the data," Hanna said.
Several Republican lawmakers also suggested that pregnant mothers could apply for the program and later choose to abort. Hanna disputed that claim.
"This is preventing abortions and that is what we are seeing in the data," Hanna testified.
Hanna confirmed that money is available for undocumented Michigan residents but said those funds come from private sources, not tax dollars.
Democrats Defend the Program
State Rep. Laurie Pohutsky (D-Livonia) pushed back against calls for tighter controls on how parents spend the money. She pointed to women in the committee chamber holding young children.
"I personally can't imagine finally having trust in a government program just to be told you can't be trusted," Pohutsky said.
What the Data Shows
Multiple studies have found that Rx Kids has improved health outcomes for children in Michigan since starting in Flint. A peer-reviewed study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that maltreatment investigations among Flint infants in their first six months of life declined from 21.7% to 15.5% after Rx Kids launched in January 2024. That represents a 32% relative reduction in maltreatment investigations.
Early research on Flint participants also showed a drastic drop in evictions, fewer preterm births, and fewer neonatal intensive care unit admissions. A March 2026 survey report from Rx Kids found that 74% of mothers reported spending their payments on baby supplies such as diapers and formula.
What This Means for Warren
Warren is in Oakland County, which is already an active Rx Kids community. Expectant mothers and new parents in the city can apply at rxkids.org if they meet eligibility requirements. Applicants must live in a participating community, be at least 16 weeks pregnant or the guardian of a child who is 6 months or younger, and the child must have been born after the program launched in their community.
The program focuses on areas with high need, measured by child poverty and maternal and infant health outcomes, but is open to mothers regardless of income.
By summer 2026, Rx Kids will operate in more than 60 communities across Michigan, reaching an estimated 23,000 births each year, according to Michigan State University, which leads the program.
The decision on whether to continue state funding in the next budget cycle will determine how long Warren families and others across Oakland County can rely on the program.