Improving access to SNAP helps families purchase healthy ingredients and eat fresh produce.
Updated: 2 minutes agoBread for sale for $11.69 per loaf at the Stuaqpak grocery store on Nov. 2, 2021 in Utqiagvik.
However, COVID-related federal policy changes created challenges for SNAP in Alaska. During the pandemic, any SNAP recipient, new or continuing, automatically received the financial assistance for food. But with the ending of the federal public health emergency, all states and territories were required to review every single SNAP applicant to assess eligibility. Alaska fell behind.
But wait — there’s good news on this front. We, Rep. Genevieve Mina and Sen. Cathy Giessel, teamed up to pass a legislative improvement for food security assistance for Alaskans. Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility is a program that helps folks needing food assistance to get it much more quickly, with less bureaucratic paperwork and delay. At the same time, BBCE helps provide an “offramp” from the program and back to self-sustainability and stability.
Most importantly, improving access to SNAP helps families purchase healthy ingredients and eat fresh produce. We know that adequate food and nutrition are fundamental in preventing and treating chronic conditions. Food security, with nutritious food, can fill the role of “food as medicine” for Alaskans battling diabetes or obesity. Prevention and effective lifestyle treatments save lives and save money. Good nutrition is part of that lifestyle medicine.
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