Health Impacts of Social Safety Net Policies: Interactions between Nutrition and Medical Care

Session Submission Type: Panel

Abstract

This panel session explores the significant ways in which social safety net policies influence health outcomes across the lifespan, with a particular focus on the role of nutrition. By examining policy changes related to income support, food assistance, and healthcare access, the three papers highlight the pathways through which these programs affect maternal and infant health, individual health behaviors, and, ultimately, mortality.

A first study investigates the impact of the 2021 expanded Child Tax Credit’s advance monthly payments on maternal and infant health. Using a quasi-experimental approach, the study finds that the payments were associated with meaningful increases in birthweight, indicating improved nutrition, particularly among Black non-Hispanic birthing people. Furthermore, the study finds an increase in gestational age, suggesting a mental health pathway, and earlier and more frequent utilization of prenatal care. The results indicate the potential of direct income support to address nutritional disparities and improve infant health.

Another paper examines the potential consequences of restrictions on food assistance on adult health. It investigates the relationship between the implementation of SNAP work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) and county-level mortality rates. Authors hypothesize that these requirements, by reducing access to consistent nutritional support through SNAP, may increase mortality, particularly among working-age adults experiencing economic hardship. This research examines the critical role of food security provided by SNAP as a fundamental element of a health safety net.

Finally, the third study leverages Tennessee's 2005 Medicaid reform to estimate the impact of losing public health insurance on body mass index and related health behaviors among adults without children. The research indicates a significant increase in BMI and overweight/obesity prevalence following the loss of coverage, potentially driven by reduced access to healthcare for managing weight and related conditions. Additionally, the loss of financial resources for healthcare may have indirectly impacted individuals' ability to afford and maintain a nutritious diet, contributing to these adverse health outcomes alongside changes in physical activity, identified through reduced vegetable consumption.

Together, these papers demonstrate the interconnected ways in which social safety net policies can influence significant health outcomes, with nutrition and access to essential resources playing critical roles. The findings presented in this panel will be of interest to researchers and policymakers concerned with the design and evaluation of these crucial programs and their broader societal impacts on health equity and well-being. The session will foster a discussion on the intricate pathways through which economic support, food assistance, and healthcare access affect nutritional security, access to care, and ultimately shape health across different populations.

Policy Area

• Poverty and Income Policy

Secondary Policy Area

• Health Policy

Chair

• Jiwoo A. Pierson, Virginia Department of Social Services

Discussants

• Monika Nayak, University of California - Los Angeles

• Nahid Tavassoli, Austin Peay State University

Organizer

• Naomi Bethlehem Zewde, University of California - Los Angeles

Individual Presentations

• Effects of the 2021 Expanded Child Tax Credit - Presenting Author: Naomi Bethlehem Zewde, University of California - Los Angeles; Non-Presenting Co-Author: Jessica Erin Pac, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Non-Presenting Co-Author: Monika Nayak, University of California - Los Angeles; Non-Presenting Co-Author: Elizabeth Oltmans Ananat, Barnard College; Non-Presenting Co-Author: Christopher Wimer, Columbia University

• SNAP Work Requirements and Mortality Impacts - Presenting Author: Jordan W. Jones, USDA Economic Research Service; Non-Presenting Co-Author: Kaitlyn Wilson

• Effects of Losing Medicaid on Body Weight and Health Behaviors - Presenting Author: Md Twfiqur Rahman, Georgia State University

• Mental Health and Early Termination of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Emergency Allotments After COVID - Presenting Author: Colleen M Heflin, Syracuse University; Non-Presenting Co-Author: Michiko Ueda, Syracuse University; Non-Presenting Co-Author: Hyeryung Jo, Syracuse University