ProMedica's summit in D.C. tackles hunger as health issue

Healthcare providers and anti-hunger advocates will come together in Washington this week to make the case that federal policies contribute to hunger and hurt Americans' health.

Ohio-based health system ProMedica plans to convene a summit Thursday to encourage healthcare providers and lawmakers to address the problem of hunger as a public health issue. Scheduled speakers include ProMedica CEO Randy Oostra; Kevin Concannon, undersecretary for the U.S. Department of Agriculture; academic experts; and leaders of national advocacy groups on hunger. Oostra is an advocate of hospital systems taking the lead in addressing the social and economic determinants of health.

The goal of the summit, to be held in the Caucus Room of the Cannon House Office Building, is to urge Congress to rethink its actions on food assistance for lower-income Americans. Last month, Congress cut $8.6 billion in funding during the next 10 years for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, popularly known as the food stamp program. Critics said that will result in a monthly loss of about $90 in benefits for as many as 850,000 recipients. That came on top of $17 billion in cuts over the next decade that went into effect last November as part of a deal President Barack Obama made with congressional Republicans in 2010 to reduce SNAP spending in exchange for reauthorization of school nutrition programs.

As a result of the cuts, SNAP benefits, which go only to people with incomes less than 130% of the federal poverty level, will average less than $1.40 per person per meal in 2014.

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