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Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Participation and Health Care Expenditures Among Low-Income Adults

An Evidence-Based Practice

Description

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the nation’s largest anti–food insecurity program, serving approximately 1 in 7 Americans. SNAP provides a monthly near-cash benefit to participants that supplements household budgets by allowing food purchases, with some restrictions. In other studies SNAP has been shown to reduce the severity and the duration of food-insecurity episodes for individuals enrolled. This study assessed whether there is an association between participation in the SNAP program and reduced health care expenditures over a 2-year period using data from the 2011 NHIS linked to 2012–2013 MEPS data. Researchers compare outcomes for those who self-identified as participating in SNAP to those who did not. Meals were not delivered.

Goal / Mission

To determine whether the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which addresses food insecurity, can reduce health care expenditures.

Results / Accomplishments

The study was a retrospective analysis of SNAP participants (n=1889 intervention group) with a matched comparison group (n=2,558). In fully adjusted models, SNAP was associated with lower estimated annual health care expenditures (−$1409; 95% CI, −$2694 to −$125). Sensitivity analyses were consistent with these results, also indicating that SNAP participation was associated with significantly lower estimated expenditures.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Harvard Medical School
Primary Contact
Seth A. Berkowitz
5034 Old Clinic Building

CB 7110

Chapel Hill, NC 27599
919-445-6794
Topics
Health / Older Adults
Health / Health Care Access & Quality
Organization(s)
Harvard Medical School
Source
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2653910?amp;utm_source=JAMA%20Intern%20MedPublishAheadofPrint&utm_campaign=25-09-2017
Date of implementation
Oct 2017
For more details
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedic...

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An Evidence-Based Practice meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes at a minimum: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program implementation steps, and outcomes that have demonstrated program success in achieving the program goal in one or more localities.
  2. The results from an evaluation of the program include quantitative measures showing improvement in the outcome(s) of interest after the implementation of the program (i.e. increase in smoking cessation, not just the delivery of a smoking cessation program). The outcome measure(s) is/are compared at relevant time periods before and after the intervention or program implementation. Alternatively, the evaluation study compares the outcome(s) between an intervention group and an appropriate control group.
  3. The study is of peer-review quality and presents numbers in a scientific manner; measurements of precision and reliability are included (e.g. confidence intervals, standard errors), results from statistical tests show a significant difference or change in the outcome measure(s), and relevant point estimates and p-values are presented. Note: if the results from an evaluation of a program are presented in a scientific manner and the outcome measure is improved compared to the baseline measurement or the control group but the difference is not statistically significant, the practice is classified as effective and not evidence-based.
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