Improving Health Outcomes Through Food Assistance Programs with Recourse for Identity (ID) Theft VICTIMS on Medicare, Medicaid & SSA.gov
“To end forced repression of society, the root to the weed that caused it must be pulled from the grounds of origination. ~ ”
👀 https://j2rrinc.org/blog/institutional-abuses-of-privileged-private-customer-information for even more insight on this topic….
(Co-Researcher & Colleague: Ms./Mrs. Spinnozi, Walden University, Fall 2025, Master of Science Nonprofit Management & Leadership)
Figure 1
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Health Care Fraud Statute (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2016, p. 2) https://www.cms.gov/files/document/overviewfwalawsagainstfactsheet072616pdf
Ms./Mrs. Spinnozi’s Post:
In 2024, over 50 million people in the United States relied on food assistance programs, including food banks, supplemental nutrition assistance programs (SNAP) and other federal or state funded programs (Nchako, 2025). Organizations such as Hilltop House, provide access to food and nutritional services for at-risk populations within Northwest Indiana and focus on not only providing access to food but improving the health of program participants in the process. The vision for the Hilltop House food pantry service addresses that many low-income families lack access to healthy food, so the pantry focuses on providing fresh produce, dairy, eggs, bread and meat products that are typically not found at traditional food pantries who supply mostly non-perishable goods (Hilltop House, n.d.). The access to fresh food is directly linked with improved health outcomes, in a study conducted by Jennings et al., (2019) it was found that access to fresh foods results in higher levels of health for participants, meaning that they will likely have to spend less on health care expenses allowing them a higher chance to escape poverty. In addition, many people (45.7%) state that they face health issues related to poor nutrition, such as obesity, diabetes, or hypertension, when a person does not have access to fresh, nutritious foods their chances of having one of these health issues increases significantly (Rude et al., 2023).
As Hilltop House continues to combat hunger within Porter country by providing access to food, the goal embraces the idea that access to fresh foods can help improve health outcomes for program participants. The objective would be to continue expanding the partnership agreements with local farms and grocery stores that operate within the community with a direct focus on how fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy products and meat benefit the health of participants and improve the quality of life for those within the community (Poister et al., 2015). In addition, increasing partnership programs would help Hilltop House manage overhead costs, allowing for an expanse of services, an introduction to new programs and continued longevity for the community in which they serve.
References
Hilltop | Food Pantry and Mission Kitchen. (2024). Hilltophouse.org. https://hilltophouse.org/Food-Pantry-and-Mission-Kitchen
Keith-Jennings, B., Llobrera, J., & Dean, S. (2019). Links of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program With Food Insecurity, Poverty, and Health: Evidence and Potential. American journal of public health, 109(12), 1636–1640. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2019.305325
Nchako, C., & Cai, L. (2023, February 13). A Closer Look at Who Benefits from SNAP: State-by-State Fact Sheets. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/a-closer-look-at-who-benefits-from-snap-state-by-state-fact-sheets#Alabama
Poister, T. H., Aristigueta, M. P., & Hall, J. L. (2015). Managing and measuring performance in public and nonprofit organizations: An integrated approach (2nd ed.). Jossey-Bass.
Rudel, R. K., Byhoff, E., Strombotne, K. L., Drainoni, M. L., & Greece, J. A. (2023). Healthcare-based food assistance programmes in the United States: a scoping review and typology. Journal of nutritional science, 12, e128. https://doi.org/10.1017/jns.2023.111
RESPONSE TO Ms./Mrs. Spinnozi
Aloha Ms./Mrs. Spinnozi,
Your OP-ED for Hilltop House is awe-inspiring. As I was reading through it, I came up with a potential scenario to help more people more effectively with the right strategy. We have corresponded in other classes with Walden over the past several months, and I may/may not have identified this for Hilltop in previous exchanges and thought to reevaluate with another suggestion for you to consider.
Another potential market: Legal assistance to anyone on food assistance programs while revitalizing their health, helping them navigate the complexities of the legal system with appointed case workers/social workers that can be compensated through (maybe) a grant-type structure with partnerships to the Federal Bar Association (2025). For instance, perhaps a family was involved in a medical malpractice/negligence/fraud/ID theft conundrum that caused significant harm to the point of forced repression and limited resources (most likely the cause of their problems based on personal experience and experiences from other known victims). DeLiema et al. (2021) suggest that the cause of identity theft is society’s reliance on technology. Often, people are too complacent with their private information online, making them susceptible to being victimized by those who refuse to admit their fault, especially involving lawsuits. To add insult to injury, the hospital that victimizes a patient will destroy a person’s credit with fraudulent billing and debt collectors with the intent of destruction. According to Bell Law, LLC (2025), the damages are catastrophic, causing unnecessary duress, emotional distress, alienation from society, with potential wage and bank levies. As a victim, it is best to get on social security disability/SSI with direct deposit from the beginning because no one can levy your social security and the SSA can file federal charges on the victim’s behalf while fining the entities a minimum of $11,000.00 per violation of filing fraudulent medical claims (e.g., Figure 1 - Medicare imposes $250,000.00 fine per violation as well) (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2016, p. 2, para. 2; Sellers Law Firm, 2022; SEO@southeastlegalmarketing.com, 2025; Social Security Administration, n.d.). Furthermore, the United States Senate passed S.153, The Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act in 2003, which outlines penalties for ID theft violations with five years imprisonment, court restraints on sentencing, and expansion of increased penalties (Social Security Administration, 2003). Reverting back to Figure 1, intent to harm is not a stipulation of required proof to prosecute (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2016). Lastly, the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB) (2024) outlines the types of funds protected from seizures and/or levies. And, the money recovered by SSA and Medicare/Medicaid becomes part of a lawsuit payout for any victim (though unsure of timelines).
Poister et al. (2015) identified that a performance management system for community disaster plans could prove fruitful if executed properly. Entire communities held down with controlled food supplies and financial restraints are nothing short of a disaster that has the potential to become a solution if one has the patience to work through all the bureaucratic red tape.
References
Bell Law, LLC. (2025, April 23). Identity theft victims (not my debt): Fighting back when debt collectors sue for debts you don’t owe. https://bell-law-kc.com/identity-theft-victims-not-my-debt-fighting-back-when-debt-collectors-sue-for-debts-you-dont-owe/
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2016, July). Laws against health care fraud [Fact sheet]. CMS. https://www.cms.gov/files/document/overviewfwalawsagainstfactsheet072616pdf
Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB). (2024, January 29). Can a debt collector take my federal benefits, like Social Security or VA payments. CFPB. https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/can-a-debt-collector-take-my-social-security-or-va-benefits-en-1157/
DeLiema, M., Burnes, D., & Langton, L. (2021). The financial and psychological impact of identity theft among older adults. Innovation in Aging, 5(4), pp. 1 – 11. https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igab043
Federal Bar Association. (2025). Your connection to the federal legal community. Federal Bar Association (FBA). https://www.fedbar.org/
Poister T. H., Aristigueta, M. P., & Hall, J. L. (2015). Managing and measuring performance in public and nonprofit organizations: An integrated approach (2nd ed.). Jossey-Bass. https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/reader/books/9781118958551/epubcfi/6/40[%3Bvnd.vst.idref%3Dc10]!/4/2/10/16/8/4%4050:99
Sellers Law Firm. (2022, December 6). What is the penalty for violating the False Claims Act. Sellers Law Firm, PC Trial Lawyers. https://www.sellerstriallaw.com/what-is-the-penalty-for-violating-the-false-claims-act/#:~:text=So%2C%20what%20is%20the%20penalty%20for%20violating,prison%20time%20of%20up%20to%205%20years.
SEO@southeastlegalmarketing.com. (2025, April 9). Penalties for fraudulent Social Security disability claims. Thiry & Caddell, LLP. https://www.thiryandassociates.com/fraudulent-ssd-penalties/
Social Security Administration (SSA). (n.d.). Compilation of the Social Security laws: Penalties for fraud. Retrieved September 5, 2025, from https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/ssact/title16b/1632.htm
Social Security Administration. (2003). Senate passes S.153, the Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act. https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/legis_bulletin_032603.html
