House subcommittee reviews maternal and infant health budget as officials flag rural hospital closures, disparities

Lansing — The Michigan House Subcommittee on Public Health examined state spending and program activity for maternal and infant health on May 13, 2025, hearing department and community presenters who said recent state investments show progress but remain fragile without sustained funding.

House fiscal analyst Sydney Brown reviewed line-item appropriations and spending so far in fiscal 2025, and state maternal and infant health director Dawn (self-identified as the director of the Division of Maternal and Infant Health, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services) and health and community partners described outcomes and remaining gaps.

Brown told the committee that the Family, Maternal and Child Health Administration has 49 authorized FTEs and a gross appropriation of $10,300,000, with $3.6 million from the general fund. She summarized other lines: $15.8 million gross for family planning and local agreements (about $7.3 million general fund); a $43.4 million prenatal care outreach and service delivery line (19 authorized FTEs, $27.4 million general fund); and a $251.3 million WIC local agreements and food cost line, largely federal WIC funding plus formula-rebate revenue. Brown said WIC participation averaged about 189,226 women and children in 2023–24, down from roughly 205,875 the prior year. She also listed smaller lines for pregnancy prevention, special projects, sudden unexpected infant death prevention and other maternal-child services.

Dawn cited historic improvements in Michigan's infant mortality rate but emphasized geographic and racial disparities. "Infant mortality is defined as the death of a live…