Association of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participation duration with cost‐related medication non‐adherence and emergency department visits

Objective Administrative requirements could disrupt sustained Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation among income‐eligible individuals. To meet their food needs, low‐income individuals without consistent SNAP benefits may compromise on medication use, posing a risk to their health. The objective of this study is to examine the association of SNAP participation duration in a given year with cost‐related medication nonadherence (CRN) and emergency department (ED) use in income‐eligible individuals. Design Cross‐sectional. Sample Non‐elderly and elderly adults who used prescription medications and participated in SNAP the previous year in 2016–2018 National Health Interview Survey. Subsamples included individuals with specific chronic conditions. Measurements CRN and ED usage. Results SNAP participation for