Supplementing Healthcare Can Support Healthier Outcomes

Nutritious food is essential to proper brain development, the ability to learn, work, and stay healthy. WIC (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance for Women, Infants, and Children) and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) are two programs that provide access to nutritious food for children and mothers who are struggling financially. But these programs are most effective when pregnant and parenting mothers and their children participate in both programs.

Unfortunately, simultaneous participation is rare – but it isn’t impossible. Recently, Houston Food Bank’s Government Relations staff held several focus groups with women who participate in one or more of these programs to find out more about how they work, what could be improved, and how health insurance through Medicaid could help ensure consistent access to nutritious food.

Overall Themes

Medical providers who care for pregnant patients or see families at initial well-child visits have a unique opportunity to build early awareness of, and trust in, nutrition programs by framing these benefits as part of a child’s healthy development and long-term outcomes. At a minimum, this can be done by offering benefit screening tools during visits and providing clear information on eligibility for WIC and SNAP, along with accessible resources to support enrollment.

The listening sessions conducted by the Houston Food Bank helped to better understand the gap between program eligibility and participation as well as minimal simultaneous participation. Specific themes that emerged are below.

Facing food insecurity was described as a “constant worry,” with several participants indicating they hoped their children/grandchildren ate at school because they didn’t know what would be available when they got home. Participants who were taking medication were rationing or going without it in order to pay for food and other basic needs like housing. One participant described food as “everything because you need it to survive.”

WIC and SNAP were both described as supplemental and therefore both necessary to move families closer to food security.

Overall input on Medicaid was positive. The drawback was that participants did not receive information about other benefits for which they were eligible when they applied for or received Medicaid services.

All but one participant did not have concerns about their information being shared across different benefit programs to determine eligibility.

All participants indicated that securing program information through their doctor when they were first pregnant or bringing a child to the doctor, would have been of great benefit. Two participants indicated their medical provider’s office helped them make a basic determination of benefit eligibility. Those in rural areas reported their medical provider being one of few available resources.

Transportation was a consistent concern. While most participants had a vehicle available to them, they didn’t have the money for gas to drive to different offices for medical and other appointments. Being able to apply and recertify for WIC as well as participate in any other requirements virtually was mentioned as an essential option for all but one participant who had family support to get to her appointments. One participant spoke highly of the transportation services she receives through Medicaid. Unfortunately, accessing WIC, SNAP, or food pantry appointments are not eligible for this service and you cannot have a vehicle even if using the vehicle is cost prohibitive.

Participants who were working either experienced or were concerned about increases in income or Social Security because public benefits decreased.

Recommended Policy Changes Based on Feedback from Participants

Require all Medicaid Managed Care Organizations and reimbursed providers to supply information on potential benefit eligibility including SNAP, WIC, housing, and utility assistance at initial and subsequent appointments.

Institute Express Lane Eligibility to assist families in knowing about potential benefit eligibility.

Require a virtual option for WIC enrollment, recertification, and class participation.

Raise the age of WIC participation to six.

Add WIC, SNAP, and food pantries as services eligible for Medicaid transportation.

Address the Benefit Cliff by creating a tiered step-down approach, rather than a sharp decrease, in public benefits.

Protect current SNAP benefits by securing funding for benefit and administrative state cost shares.

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