(The Center Square) – Some legislators have worried that Pennsylvanians who receive federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits might be using them to buy foods that detract from their health.
A bill has passed through the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs committee that would help alleviate some of those concerns by establishing the Pennsylvania Food Bucks Program.
House Bill 1096 would incentivize SNAP recipients to purchase healthy food like fruit and vegetables by giving them a minimum 40 cent benefit for each dollar they spend on approved healthy food items.
The program would be overseen by a nonprofit organization appointed by the state, which would also conduct regular evaluations for program efficacy. The account to fund the program would be established within the general fund and would be eligible to receive donations and grant money.
Currently, all SNAP benefits are funded by the federal government, though the state spends about $200 million annually administering the benefit through the Department of Human Services.
Similar incentive programs have been successful in other states, and the bill’s sponsor, committee Chair Rep. Eddie Pashinski noted that it would help to increase demand in grocery stores and farmers markets for the state’s agricultural products.
“Imagine what a difference that kind of surge in demand for healthy foods could do for our farmers, retailers, and our families,” wrote Pashinski.
The average SNAP beneficiary receives between $23 and a few hundred dollars monthly, depending on income and family size. That means if a family with the lowest possible benefit spent every dollar on approved foods, they’d receive just over nine dollars in additional benefits from the state.
SNAP funds can only be used toward food. For many, the supplement makes the difference between putting food on the table or going hungry. With or without the additional incentive for nutritious items, SNAP benefits have a direct impact on health.
In an Appropriations Committee hearing earlier this year, DHS Secretary Val Arkoosh emphasized that SNAP benefits lead to lower medical costs. She said when someone loses SNAP, the cost to Medicaid goes up by $50 per month per person. For those with chronic health conditions like hypertension, that number rises to a cost of $150 to Medicaid. For those with diabetes, it hits $200 per month.
Twenty-three of twenty-six who voted in the committee meeting supported the bill, demonstrating bipartisan strength as it moved to the House floor.
