The SNAP Cycle and Diabetes Management During a One-Time Change in Disbursement Schedule.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Economics
• Nutrition Science

Background:

• The 2018-2019 federal government shutdown disrupted Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit disbursement schedules.
• This disruption potentially impacted health outcomes for vulnerable populations, including individuals with diabetes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the relationship between altered SNAP benefit timing and medical encounters for hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia.
• To understand the impact of benefit disbursement disruptions on diabetes management.

Main Methods:

• Utilized linked administrative Medicaid claims and SNAP disbursement data from West Virginia.
• Employed a fixed-effects model analyzing monthly cycles of hyperglycemia/hypoglycemia encounters.
• Controlled for temporal, geographic, and individual characteristics.

Main Results:

• Early January 2019 SNAP disbursement led to a fourfold increase in hyperglycemia encounters.
• A decrease in both hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia encounters was observed in late February 2019.

Conclusions:

• Early benefit disbursement may temporarily increase food consumption, leading to acute glycemic changes.
• Findings suggest beneficiaries may adapt to reduced food resources later in the benefit cycle.
• Highlights unintended consequences of government shutdowns on safety net program beneficiaries with chronic conditions.