Health Affairs

In this article, we outline actionable strategies for strengthening one of the most essential administrative data assets—encounter data—and explain how improving this resource can unlock the efficiencies and insights states need to meet federal imperatives and lead with confidence in a rapidly evolving Medicaid landscape. | Forefront @DataDrivenGovt, et al. | @manatt healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/for…

In @Health_Affairs Scholar, @bobkocher, Siobhan Nolan Mangini (both of @Venrock) and I argue that – by scaling specialist-level knowledge – AI will create, in essence, the "generalist-specialist." We explore the far-reaching implications for healthcare. academic.oup.com/healthaffairss…

@ColumbiaUP Thanks for sharing!

In this episode of the Health Affairs This Week podcast, Jeff Byers welcomes Halle Tecco for a discussion of MASSIVELY BETTER HEALTHCARE. buff.ly/XwIhA4G @Health_Affairs #ListenUP #Business #Healthcare

The “it’s the prices” narrative focuses attention on a set of fee-schedule-oriented policies, but the concern is that this narrative focuses attention away from other policies related to mix and volume. | Forefront @Michael_Chernew | @harvardmed healthaffairs.org/content/forefr…

Using newly available Medicare enrollment data, we describe changes in look-alike plan offerings and dual-eligible enrollment following CMS’s revisions to the “look-alike” policy. In addition, we discuss the policy implications of our findings for CMS Proposed Rule 4212-P, which consider extending look-alike termination policy to Chronic Condition Special Needs Plans. | Forefront Yanlei Ma, et al. | @HarvardChanSPH healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/for…

What are the implications of the "most favored nation" drug pricing on pharmaceutical research & development? @UCBerkeley’s James Robinson examines the potential impacts on investments & innovation. healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.13…

To explore the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on non-COVID-19 US death rates, @UVABatten’s Christopher Ruhm examines excess mortality rates. While COVID-19 death rates dropped 93% from 2021 to 2024, excess non-COVID-19 deaths declined just 48%. healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.13…

With a growing demand for mental health and substance use disorder services, states should think creatively about policies to extend and grow the workforce. | Forefront Renee Gross, et al. | @aboutKP healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/for…

MedPAC answers the dollars-and-cents question—how much more Medicare pays MA plans due to favorable selection and upcoding than it would spend if MA beneficiaries were in traditional Medicare—employing a transparent, fully described methodology that is annually peer-reviewed. | Forefront Steven M. Lieberman and Paul B. Ginsburg | @USCSchaeffer, @USCPrice healthaffairs.org/content/forefr…

Editor @lott_rob interviews Em Balkan of @Brown_SPH about their recent paper showing that rapid disenrollment from Medicare Advantage plans tripled from 2017 to 2022, with higher rates among dual‑eligible beneficiaries and certain racial and ethnic groups — raising questions about how well plans are meeting beneficiaries’ needs. healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hp2…

Actuarial Research Corporation's Timothy Bulat & coauthors examine the impact of Maryland's all-payer global budget models on hospital utilization trends. From 2013–23, Maryland saw an 11% greater decrease in hospital utilization compared to other states. healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.13…

More than 80,000 qualified applicants were turned away from nursing schools in 2024—not because they lacked ability but because federal policy has chronically underfinanced the educators who would train them. A new bipartisan bill is a start, but it’s not enough. | Forefront Y. Tony Yang, et al. | @gwNURSING healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/for…

Our April 2026 issue is now available! This month’s issue features a range of topics, including drug prices, behavioral health, hospitals, and more. healthaffairs.org/toc/hlthaff/45…

Multi-year coverage potentially improves the value of insurance by making it easier for insurers to pool high- and low-risk enrollees. But this will require careful implementation. | Forefront @david__simon, et al. | @NUSL, @TuftsMedSchool healthaffairs.org/content/forefr…

📢 Call for submissions 📢 We invite all community voices often excluded from public health-related scholarly publishing and policy discussions to apply. Apply by May 11: healthaffairs.submittable.com/submit/730fb80… Register for the Q&A this Wed, Apr 8: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regist…

By addressing the missing link of clinician engagement and providing financial tools and regulatory freedom to innovate, Maryland can fulfill its promise as a national roadmap for high-value care. | Forefront @AmitJainSpine, et al. | @HopkinsOrtho healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/for…

Multi-year coverage potentially improves the value of insurance by making it easier for insurers to pool high- and low-risk enrollees. But this will require careful implementation. | Forefront @CPopeHC | @ManhattanInst healthaffairs.org/content/forefr…

Why aren’t all abnormal blood pressure readings acted upon? Unless federal mandates and reimbursement structures require emergency departments (EDs) to act, EDs will remain structurally disincentivized from addressing one of the most prevalent and consequential risk factors they encounter every day. | Forefront @kimsouffront, et al. | @IcahnMountSinai healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/for…

While there has been some (since-resolved) litigation over Delaware’s cost-growth benchmark, the lawsuit filed by the California Hospital Association appears to be the most significant attempt to use the courts to try to derail state policies over cost-growth benchmarks. | Forefront Suhasini Ravi and @Katie_Keith | @oneillinstitute healthaffairs.org/content/forefr…

@rockcreekpolicy Thanks for sharing!

Great new study on health insurance administrative costs and profit. Worth noting: Median insurer profits per patient for fully-insured $63/year, self-insured $22/year. My take: insurer profit is not what is driving health care costs. @Health_Affairs