Birthing Hospitals Get Incentive Money for Establishing Paternity

LANSING- Part of the $20 million federal bonus payment Michigan received for reducing out-of-wedlock births will be given as incentives to birthing hospitals who increase their paternity establishment rates. Birthing hospitals provide paternity establishment services free of charge as part of the birth registration process.
"Establishing paternity is one of the keys to strengthening Michigan's families and enabling personal responsibility," said FIA director Douglas E. Howard. "All children have the right to know and be supported by both parents.

"We expect the incentive payments will help increase the number of paternity acknowledgements in hospitals."

In letters to birthing hospitals, Governor John Engler announced that $1.7 million will be awarded to birthing hospitals for their 1999 paternity establishment rate as well as a bonus payment to hospitals that increased paternity establishment from 1998-99. The incentive payments range from $364 to $117,463. Hospitals will receive the payments by the end of September.

"Michigan has been a leader in reducing out-of-wedlock births and teen pregnancies," said Michigan Department of Community Health director James K. Havemen, Jr. "These funds will play an important role in our continuing effort to improve the lives of children."

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