Division of Health Policy and Insurance Research (HPI)

In a given year, only 10% of Americans who need behavioral health care receive treatment. Lack of health insurance coverage and discriminatory restrictions on behavioral health benefits pose major financial barriers to treatment. Our researchers investigate how mental health can be improved through research, practice and policy.

Chronic illnesses like diabetes and cancers are major causes of morbidity, premature deaths, financial toxicity for individuals, and enormous health system spending in the U.S. and across the world. Our research assesses health care access, use, quality, clinical outcomes, and spending on chronic illness care. 

Persistent workforce shortages and the unequal workforce distribution are two of the most serious concerns that have historically dominated U.S. health care workforce policy debates. Hao Yu has led multidisciplinary teams using large national data files to examine whether reforms, such as the Affordable Care Act (2014), and the expansion of National Health Services Corp (2009), have alleviated these concerns. His research has also examined the impacts of health workforce shortage and maldistribution on health care and outcomes for vulnerable populations, such as children with autism and those who live in health professional shortage areas. His findings have been published by top medical and health policy journals, such as the New England Journal of Medicine, and Health Affairs. 

Health insurance coverage is an important determinant of health care access and spending. Health insurance policies rapidly evolve in response to changing need for care, emerging technologies, and increasing costs of care. Our research assesses the impacts of private and public health insurance policies on the use and quality of care, spending, and health outcomes.

The U.S. is facing a serious crisis of rising rates of maternal mortality and severe morbidity. Attributable factors include financial barriers to maternal care access, policy restrictions, and the persistent, deep shortages of maternal care workforce in disadvantaged urban communities and rural areas. By examining these factors, our researchers have been contributing to the evidence base that can inform national strategies to address the crisis. 

For example, after the June 2022 Dobbs decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, state laws on abortion access have been changing rapidly across the country. Drs. Baker, Garabedian, Yu, and Zhang are assessing the impacts of state-level abortion restrictions on demographic, health, and economic outcomes. Laura Garabedian is leading research on the impacts of state Marketplace and Medicaid policies on maternal, child, and reproductive health. Drs. Baker, Yu, and Zhang are examining the impacts of maternity care workforce shortages on disparities in maternal and child health.

Sustainable, high quality health systems depend upon access to clinically effective, safe, and affordable medicines. Our pharmaceutical policy research studies the impacts of pharmaceutical regulation and insurance coverage policies on information about, access to, use of, and spending on medicines, and associated clinical outcomes.