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You are here: Home > SNAP > HIP
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Healthy Incentives Pilot (HIP) - Basic Facts
 
What is HIP?
  The Farm Bill authorized $20 million for pilot projects to evaluate health and nutrition promotion in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to determine if incentives provided to recipients at the point-of-sale increase the purchase of fruits, vegetables or other healthful foods among SNAP participants. FNS refers to this effort as the Healthy Incentives Pilot or HIP. SNAP was formerly known as the Food Stamp Program.
 
Why is HIP important?
 

One of our Nation's most pressing health challenges is poor diet and inactivity. Over 17 percent of children are overweight and over 66 percent of adults are overweight or obese. Low-income individuals are particularly at-risk. If current trends continue through 2020, treating the consequences of obesity may consume up to one-fifth of health care expenditures.
  The Federal nutrition assistance programs administered by USDA are powerful tools to help address this problem. Nutrition assistance programs reach one in five Americans in the course of a year providing food benefits and nutrition education.
  FNS has long recognized the need to explore new and innovative approaches that empower low-income Americans to consume diets that include optimal levels of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and other healthful foods. HIP offers the opportunity to study one such approach.
 
What was the HIP Symposium?
  In October 2008, FNS hosted a symposium to consult with partners, interested stakeholders and other experts, including representatives from academic and other research institutions, private industry, Federal and State governments, retailer associations and advocates. The meeting focused on a set of questions, covering key areas of interest which were provided in advance to attendees and panel members. FNS is using information gathered at the symposium to help determine the design, implementation and evaluation criteria for the pilot.
  Meeting Materials:
  -- Symposium Agenda
-- Symposium Panel participants
-- Biographies of Panel Participants
-- Symposium Panel Questions
-- Transcript from HIP Symposium
-- GAO Report: FOOD STAMP PROGRAM: 
     Options for Delivering Financial Incentives to
     Participants for Purchasing Targeted Foods
 
Where can I find the legislative references for HIP?
  HIP was authorized in Section 4141 of the Food Conservation and Energy Act of 2008.
 
What does the term “pilot” mean?
 

A pilot is a small scale test of a concept.
 
How can I submit a proposal for consideration?
  Information concerning proposal submission will be posted as soon as it becomes available. Please check back in early December 2009 for an update.
 

Send questions about HIP to HIP@fns.usda.gov  


Last modified: 11/16/2009
 
Photo - A man and women selecting vegetables in a supermarket produce area.