A statewide study of GiveDirectly’s Rx Kids program in Flint, Michigan found that giving every pregnant woman in the city $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 monthly postpartum in cash led to healthier births and saved millions in healthcare costs. The findings highlight that poverty itself is a health risk factor for mothers and babies — and show that unconditional cash can work as a universal public health policy.

The study was led by researchers at Michigan State University and the University of Michigan, who analyzed more than 450,000 births across the state.

Compared to similar Michigan cities, premature birth rates fell by up to 18% (-2.7pp) and low birth weight births by up to 27% (-4.2pp) relative to Flint’s baseline rates.

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Another new study in the American Journal of Public Health followed more than 1,000 mothers who gave birth at Flint’s public hospital, comparing outcomes before and after the program with a group just outside the city. Researchers found the program nearly eliminated evictions, reduced housing debt, and gave families the security to buy the food they wanted.

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Researchers estimate that fewer preterm births alone saved up to $6.2 million, compared to the $5.8 million in cash distributed to mothers through January 2025.

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Unlike typical research pilots that end after data collection, Rx Kids was designed as a long-term public health policy, with backing from leaders across the aisle. The program is still running in Flint and has expanded to 10 additional Michigan communities, including both urban areas and rural counties.

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While the results in Flint are promising, it’s worth noting that RxKids intentionally targets places with high rates of poverty. Additional research will be needed to confirm if it is as effective in places with more socioeconomic diversity.

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This is also the first time a state has used TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) dollars for unconditional cash for moms and their babies. By treating childbirth as a “short-term episode of need,” state leaders can redirect TANF funds directly to families — without new federal approval or legislation. Any state can adopt this model today.

GiveDirectly delivers the cash for Rx Kids. It uses funds from both public sources and private philanthropy.

A previous study showed that giving cash to pregnant women in Kenya cut infant deaths by 48%, which is obviously a larger effect, but apparently this is still well worth doing in the US.