BY ANGELINA CICERCHIA, MD CANDIDATE, CLASS OF 2027, UMASS CHAN MEDICAL SCHOOL MEMBER, COMMITTEE ON NUTRITION & PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Angelina Circerchia
For many patients, especially those facing systemic barriers such as financial challenges and living in under-resourced areas, accessing nutritious, affordable food can be a continuous struggle. As physicians, we often find ourselves in a dilemma
— how can we recommend a plant-based or whole-foods diet when the very foods we advocate for are often out of reach for these populations?
One powerful tool at our disposal is the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) in Massachusetts. HIP provides additional funds to
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) each month, enabling them to purchase fresh produce from participating local farms. There is no additional enrollment process; patients automatically qualify if they are already receiving SNAP
benefits. Monthly allotments are determined by household size, and the funds can be used at farm stands, farmers markets, and indoor winter markets. The Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) has a farm finder tool on its website that allows people to find local farms that participate in HIP. Not only do patients get access to fresh, nutritious produce, but they are also reimbursed up to their monthly allotment, thus making this farm produce free.
Photo by LukaTDB via Getty Images.
As physicians, we can be key advocates in connecting our patients with this valuable resource, especially since awareness of HIP remains low. A recent review of short-chain value systems — mobile markets, food hubs, farm stands, and farm-to-school
programs — highlights that underutilization is often tied to a lack of awareness about these programs. As physicians, this provides an opportunity to bridge the gap between using nutrition as a means of health promotion and offering patients
a financially sensitive solution. Individuals receiving SNAP benefits already represent at-risk populations, making the promotion of HIP a vital part of comprehensive care.
Information about HIP may be incorporated into the office visit flow in a variety of ways. One access point could be during the social determinants of health screening, an ideal touchpoint to assess patients food access and SNAP participation
status, allowing for a tailored discussion about HIP and other community resources.
“Unfortunately, many of my patients
who receive SNAP are either unaware of the
HIP benefit or believe shopping at a farmers’ market would be too expensive. However, one patient, after learning about HIP this year, has become a local
advocate. She’s thrilled to be able to get fresh produce for her family from the mobile farmers’ market that visits our office weekly. She mentioned that it now
feels easier to justify purchasing a wider variety
of fruits and vegetables for her children to try.”
— Melanie Gnazzo, MD, Family Medicine Physician at an urban federally qualified health center in Worcester, MA
Patients from marginalized backgrounds deserve to have access to fresh, nutritious foods. HIP empowers physicians and other clinicians to recommend viable ways for patients to achieve healthy diets with minimally processed plant-predominant foods,
ultimately creating a healthier, more equitable future for our patients.
