Food Assistance May Help Older Adults Adhere to Diabetes Meds

A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) may lower the number of low-income older diabetics skipping medications due to cost, reports HealthDay News . The researchers analyzed data from 1,302 seniors with diabetes or borderline diabetes who participated in the National Health Interview Survey from 2013 through 2016, who qualified to receive SNAP benefits, were prescribed medications, and incurred out-of-pocket medical costs in the previous year. Analysis determined 36.3 percent of study participants participated in SNAP and 12.9 percent reported cost-related medication non-adherence in the previous year. A moderate decline was observed in cost-related medication non-adherence among SNAP participants compared with eligible non-participants. Similar results were seen for subgroups that had prescription drug coverage and less than $500 in out-of-pocket medical costs in the previous year. However, older adults lacking prescription coverage or with higher medical costs did not experience similar reductions. "In addition to alleviating food insecurity, food assistance programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program may have a spillover income benefit by helping older adults with diabetes better afford their medications, perhaps by reducing out-of-pocket food expenditures," the researchers concluded.