Research Abstract

I am a physician and health services researcher with expertise in patient and physician incentives for efficient care as well as assessment of cancer care in claims data. I lead or have led six major projects examining effects of high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) on appropriate health care and have published early studies of modern HDHPs. I co-lead the Harvard site's NIDDK/CDC NEXT-D study (1U58DP02719) that examines the impact of HDHPs on diabetes prevention, quality, and disparities and I am the Principal Investigator of an analysis of the longer term impact of HDHPs on diabetes complications (R01 DK100304). In addition, I am the Principal Investigator of an American Cancer Society-funded study, “The Impact of HDHPs on Disparities in Cancer Screening” (ID: 118261-RSGI-10-075-01-CPHPS) and an NCI study (1R01CA172639) examining breast cancer outcomes among HDHP members. I am the Principal Investigator of an imminent PCORI project assessing high-deductible insurance and bipolar disorder. I have also been Principal Investigator and co-investigator of an examination of the impact of a regional Massachusetts HDHP on a spectrum of outcomes including outpatient visits, laboratory and radiology testing, cancer screening, pediatric care, maternity care, medication use, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations. I have experience in analyzing large databases, understanding nuances of health plan benefit design, and understanding how medical care by physicians can be accurately assessed using health insurance claims data. I have also helped develop rigorous study designs that minimize selection bias, a major problem when trying to accurately interpret utilization patterns among HDHP members. Finally, I am a general internist physician with first-hand experience managing and counseling chronically ill patients.