In Massachusetts, some patients seeking physical and behavioral health services may be able to get their care in the form of arts and culture activities under a new model being adopted by state officials.
The Massachusetts Cultural Council, the state’s arts agency, is partnering with health care provider Art Pharmacy to offer arts-based social prescriptions after receiving positive feedback from a three-year pilot program. The program is the first “statewide arts prescription solution” in the U.S., an intervention that has already been adopted in other countries but not yet implemented in the U.S., the council said.
Under this model, patients participate in workshops, classes, gallery visits and performances — strategies to strengthen their mental health, reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness and address potential chronic illnesses. Patients referred to Georgia-based Art Pharmacy are typically prescribed 12 “doses” over the course of a year and can choose from a variety of activities, said CEO Chris Appleton.
“We’ve found that it has a positive impact on mental and emotional health. We contribute to social interaction and community building,” Appleton told Statehouse News Service. “Our activities are really accessible and convenient. We provide access to a variety of fun activities. We encourage personal growth and learning.”
Appleton said patients will want to continue participating in arts and culture programming after their prescription medications are no longer in effect, and the doses are free for patients of participating health care providers and insurance companies.
The Cultural Council plans to allocate $100,000 in its fiscal 2025 spending plan to support Art Pharmacy’s programs, an agency spokesman said.
Appleton said a wide range of patients, from young to elderly, can benefit from social prescribing, and encouraged interested residents to contact their health care providers to inquire about referrals.
Art Pharmacy matches patients with arts and culture activities based on their health goals, access needs and interests, and also arranges tickets, transportation and other accommodations, according to its website. For example, for patients with high blood pressure, their doctor may prescribe medication to help manage stress, Appleton said.
Arts Pharmacy says 70% of its members experience an improvement in their mental health.
“We know the arts have the power to heal, both physically and mentally,” Gov. Maura Healey said in a statement. “Massachusetts is proud to once again be pioneering groundbreaking health care innovation with the nation’s first statewide arts prescription solution.”
Massachusetts General Hospital’s Brigham branch is also joining the effort, and Appleton said the pharmacy plans to announce more healthcare partners.
“We are pleased to use this new social prescription model in our pilot program as an additional tool to address blood pressure management,” said Dr. Anne Klibanski, CEO of Massachusetts General Hospital Brigham. “Given longstanding disparities in blood pressure management in underserved communities, we will focus this care in primary care settings where patients are most at risk. This work parallels our commitment to providing a personalized, quality experience for all Massachusetts General Hospital Brigham patients.”
In Massachusetts, where there is a severe shortage of health care workers and long wait times for patients, social prescription is considered an important treatment option, Appleton said.
Michael Bobbitt, executive director of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, said he hopes the program will reduce medical visits, including trips to the hospital, and shorten wait times.
Asked how many Massachusetts residents could benefit from Social Prescription in the first year, Bobbitt said it would depend on how many health care providers and insurers participate in the program. He said one health care provider in the pilot program said giving out art-related prescriptions was like handing out Willy Wonka golden tickets.
Bobbitt said the program would also strengthen the state’s arts sector by providing new revenue streams for cultural organizations.
“From a cultural perspective, more people will recognize the value of arts and culture in their daily lives,” Bobbitt said. “And that also means we may see more patrons of arts and culture.”