USDA Healthy Incentives Pilot (HIP)

Abt Associates

Status: Completed

Conditions: Dietary Modification

Treatments: Other: HIP

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; Industry; Other U.S. Federal agency

Identifiers

NCT02651064

HIP

Details and patient eligibility

About

The USDA Healthy Incentives Pilot (HIP) evaluated the impact of a 30% financial incentive on fruit and vegetable intake among adult participants in the USDA Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program (SNAP).

Full description

U.S. fruit and vegetable intake remains below recommendations, particularly for low-income populations. Evidence on effectiveness of financial incentives for addressing this shortfall is limited.

This study examined effects of USDA's Healthy Incentives Pilot (HIP), which offered financial incentives to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants for purchasing targeted fruits and vegetables (TFV).

A randomized controlled trial of HIP was conducted in Hampden County, Massachusetts. 7,500 randomly selected SNAP households received a 30% rebate on TFV purchased using SNAP benefits. The remaining 47,595 SNAP households in the county received benefits as usual. Adults in 5,076 households were randomly sampled to complete telephone surveys, including 24-h dietary recall interviews. Surveys were conducted at baseline-1-3 mo pre-implementation-and in two follow-up rounds, 4-6 mo and 9-11 mo post-implementation. 2,784 adults (1,388 HIP, 1,396 non-HIP) completed baseline interviews; data were analyzed for 2,009 adults (72%) also completing at least one follow-up interview.

Enrollment: 55,095 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 16+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Households with residential or mailing address in Hampden County, Massachusetts
• Receiving SNAP benefits in July 2011

Exclusion criteria

• Child-only cases (households not including at least one member aged 16 or older eligible to serve as SNAP head of household)
• Cases with benefits signed over to residential or treatment facilities

Trial design

55,095 participants in 2 patient groups

HIP

Experimental group

Description:

Received a 30% rebate on targeted fruits and vegetables (TFV) purchased using SNAP benefits in participating retailers. TFV earning the rebate included fresh, canned, frozen, and dried fruits and vegetables without added sugars, fats, oils, or salt, excluding white potatoes, mature legumes (dried beans and peas), and 100% juice.

Treatment:

Other: HIP

Non-HIP

No Intervention group

Description:

Received SNAP benefits as usual.