Increasing Access to Antipoverty Tax Credits Through a Medical Financial Partnership

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Public Health Policy
• Community Health Initiatives

Background:

• Child poverty is associated with adverse health outcomes across the lifespan.
• Tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit are vital antipoverty measures.
• Barriers to accessing tax credits include complex filing processes and lack of awareness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a program aimed at increasing access to free tax filing services in underserved communities.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of marketing and community engagement strategies in promoting tax credit utilization.
• To highlight the potential for pediatric healthcare institutions to partner in improving child health outcomes through financial resource access.

Main Methods:

• A 3-year program implemented by Nationwide Children's Hospital starting in 2020.
• Development of a comprehensive marketing campaign.
• Collaboration with community-based organizations to establish free tax filing clinics in high-poverty areas.

Main Results:

• Increased tax filings from 469 at baseline to 532 in year 3.
• Facilitated over $3.49 million in combined federal and state tax credits for families across 3 years.
• Identified effective marketing strategies for community engagement.

Conclusions:

• Free tax filing services can be effectively delivered through hospital-community partnerships.
• Targeted marketing and accessible clinics increase utilization of financial resources like tax credits.
• Pediatric healthcare institutions can play a role in addressing social determinants of health by connecting families to financial resources.