THE AARP FOUNDATION’S FRESH SAVINGS Rx PROGRAM HELPS OLDER TENNESSEANS

Seventy-two-year-old Dorothy Wade is one of nearly 900 participants in Tennessee benefitting from Fresh Savings Rx. Dorothy was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007 and has suffered from diabetes since 2001. Her symptoms include high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure.

In Memphis, Tennessee – and several cities in Mississippi – SNAP participants are benefitting from a new, pilot program called Fresh Savings Rx. Through this program – made possible by AARP Foundation – individuals who meet the eligibility requirements can receive up to $180 in vouchers for fresh fruits and vegetables over the course of several months. To be eligible, patients must be currently receiving SNAP benefits and have, or be at risk for, a diet-related chronic disease. Fresh Savings Rx vouchers are “prescribed” by health care providers at participating clinics. In Tennessee, the three health care clinics operating Fresh Savings Rx are Church Health along with Regional One Health’s South Third Primary Care and Internal Medicine clinics. The vouchers can be redeemed at various locations in the Memphis area including Kroger Grocery Stores, Cooper-Young Community Farmers Market and The Grocer at South Memphis.

Dorothy learned about Fresh Savings Rx when she saw a flyer in the waiting room of South Third Primary Care. Her nurse practitioner conducted a health screening and found that Dorothy suffered from a diet-related disease. After confirming Dorothy was a SNAP participant, the nurse practitioner let Dorothy know she was eligible for Fresh Savings Rx. During that same visit, Dorothy was given a booklet with six $10 vouchers (a total of $60) for purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables. When Dorothy returns for her next checkup, her nurse practitioner can provide a “refill” of Fresh Savings Rx vouchers.

Dorothy’s diet drastically improved once she was able to afford healthy fruits and vegetables. She now budgets her Fresh Savings Rx vouchers with her SNAP dollars throughout the month. The program has allowed her to try vegetables like squash and turnips for the first time. She now regularly incorporates them into her diet. Her diabetes and cholesterol have improved and she feels better. Dorothy is a testament that a healthier diet can combat chronic illness and that programs like Fresh Savings Rx program by AARP Foundation are instrumental in this change.

The Fresh Savings Rx program enables health care providers to “prescribe” fruits and vegetables to their patients who participate in SNAP and have a diet-related chronic disease. The “prescription” exists in the form of vouchers, worth up to $60, to be used on fresh produce at participating stores and farmers markets. For more information about Fresh Savings Rx visit fresh-savings.org.

The resource was created with funding from AARP Foundation and USDA.