Does the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Affect Hospital Utilization Among Older Adults? The Case of Maryland
Accounting for the strong effects of health care access, this study finds that SNAP is associated with reduced hospitalization in dually eligible older adults. Policies to increase SNAP participation and benefit amounts in eligible older adults may reduce hospitalizations and health care costs for older dual eligible adults living in the community.
Participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and higher benefit amounts are linked to reduced inpatient hospitalizations, but not emergency department visits, among low-income older adults in Maryland.
Expanding SNAP access to all eligible nonparticipants could have saved an estimated $19 million in hospital costs in 2012, suggesting that improving SNAP participation and benefit levels may enhance health outcomes and lower healthcare expenses by addressing food insecurity.
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