On May 28th, Allison Bovell-Ammon, Deputy Director of Policy Strategy, testified before the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Health Care Financing in support of the Senate Bill 678 and House Bill 1173, “An Act improving public health through a common application for core food, health and safety-net programs”. Passing this bill will help close the ‘SNAP Gap’, which refers to Massachusetts residents who receive Mass Health and are likely eligible for SNAP, but aren’t receiving SNAP benefits. By creating a common application portal so that families and individuals may apply for MassHealth and SNAP at the same time, the state will increase access to nutrition assistance, improve food security, and consequently reduce costs associated with the negative health effects of hunger.