Cash benefits may be the solution to provide better access to care for patients in poverty

Author(s):

Grace Koennecke

Key Takeaways

Cash benefits reduced emergency department visits and hospitalizations among low-income patients in Chelsea, Massachusetts.
No significant change was observed in outpatient visits, primary care, or behavioral health visits due to cash benefits.
Cash benefits did not affect COVID-19 vaccinations, blood pressure, body weight, glycated hemoglobin, or cholesterol levels.
The study indicates that cash benefits could improve healthcare access and support for patients in poverty.

New research suggests that providing cash benefits for patients in poverty-stricken areas could lead to better health care access.

One of the many significant barriers to health care is poverty, causing worse health outcomes for patients. However, a possible solution among researchers suggests that a cash benefit for patients could decrease the amount of emergency department and outpatient care visits.

In a study conducted in Chelsea, Mass., a low-income community, researchers randomly assigned patients by lottery to receive cash benefits via a debit card of up to $400 per month for nine months, while also having a control group who did not receive any. From there, patients’ medical records were linked across multiple health care systems from November 4, 2020, to August 31, 2021. The research was first reported on the JAMA Network.

Of the 2,280 participants who applied for the lottery, the 1,746 who were randomized to receive the cash benefits had significantly fewer emergency department visits, only 271.1 visits per 1,000 people, compared to the control group, who had 317.5 visits per 1,000 people. The group who received cash benefits also had reduced emergency department visits related to behavioral health and substance use, as well as reduced hospitalizations.

The cash benefits did not significantly affect total outpatient visits, as there were still 424.3 visits per 1,000 people. Visits to primary care and outpatient behavioral health visits were also still relatively high, with 90.4 visits per 1,000 people to primary care facilities and 83.5 visits per 1,000 people to outpatient behavioral health facilities. The benefits also did not have any effect on COVID-19 vaccinations, blood pressure, body weight, glycated hemoglobin, or cholesterol level.

Researchers concluded that patients who received cash benefits had less visits to emergency departments and admissions to a hospital from an emergency department, and that there was an increase in outpatient subspeciality care. The research suggests that by integrating more cash benefits to patients in poverty, they can have more support and access to health care and health care benefits than before.