Health Impact Assessment of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
The Health Impact Project—a collaboration of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts—summarizes here the initial findings of a health impact assessment (HIA) conducted to inform Congressional consideration of changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), as included in the 112th Congress by the full Senate and the House Agriculture Committee versions of the farm bill (S. 3240 and H.R. 6083, respectively).
This initial analysis examines the proposed changes through a health lens, including the day-to-day impact on people’s lives, presenting a full and objective exposition of the estimated impacts and potential trade-offs. The full HIA will present additional research and analysis, including a summary of engagement with stakeholders such as SNAP participants and retailers.