Newborn deaths in Flint fell by half after families got cash during pregnancy and infancy
A study in JAMA Pediatrics links the Rx Kids programme to a sharp drop in babies dying in their first month.
- $1,500 in pregnancy, then $500 a month in infancy
- Early newborn deaths down 74%
- Published in JAMA Pediatrics
The programme
Rx Kids, run in Flint, Michigan, gives families $1,500 during pregnancy and then $500 a month during infancy. It is described as the first community-wide cash 'prescription' programme for mothers and babies in the US. Before it began, Flint's newborn death rate was more than double the rest of the state's.
The results
Researchers compared Michigan birth and death records from 2021 to 2025. Deaths within 28 days of birth in Flint fell from 10.2 to 5.1 per 1,000 live births, almost matching the state's 3.9. Deaths in the first week fell 74%. For the first time in the study period, the gap with the rest of Michigan was no longer statistically significant. The authors note the data is observational, so it shows a strong link rather than proof.
