Details on the Health Bucks program
We are participating in the NYC Department of Health's Health Bucks program this year. Health bucks are $2 coupons that can be used to purchase fruits and vegetables at all New York City farmer's markets. The goal of the program is to encourage community members to shop at neighborhood farmer's markets and increase their fruit and vegetable consumption. We have been given $400 worth of Health Bucks to distribute to our patients. All farmer's markets that accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will provide customers with a $2 Health Buck for every $5 spent using their SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, so this program is particularly helpful to those who receive SNAP benefits.
All of our patients can use Health Bucks from start of summer until December 31. We recommend distributing between $6-10 of Health Bucks per patient, particularly those that are experiencing food insecurity. We have maps (to be given to patients in clinic) that show all farmer's markets where these Health Bucks can be used. It is important to stress that the Health Bucks are essentially money ($$) that can be used for fruits and vegetables, so it is like we are handing them $6-10 for healthy foods (exciting)!
Returning unused Health Bucks
Hopefully, our patients will be excited about this program and redeem the Health Bucks. However, if they do not, we will ask them to return them to clinic, as the directors of this program would like all unredeemed Health Bucks to be returned to the Department of Health in January.
Map of Farmers Markers that accept Health Bucks
Where to find Health Bucks in clinic
In the clear bin near the CM, there is a folder labeled "ACT Health Bucks". In this folder are maps and the Health Bucks. When giving to patients, please be sure to complete the tracker, details below.
Tracking Health Bucks: required if given to patient
There is a tracking sheet that you will need to complete in clinic when distributing Health Bucks to patients. List the patient's name and MRN as well as the 6-digit serial number range of the Health Bucks distributed to each patient. These serial numbers are listed in the upper right-hand corner of the Health Bucks.