FEATURE STORIES

Health Insurance May Slow Toxin-Related Aging

A study by Jamaji Nwanaji-Enwerem revealed that among people exposed to similar levels of lead, those with health insurance showed fewer changes associated with biological aging than those without insurance.

RHTF Allocations May Not Match Rural Health Needs

Paula Chatterjee and Rachel M. Werner found that the first-year Rural Health Transformation Fund allocations to states may not align with the locations with the greatest need.

A Social Security Disability Insurance form on a clipboard

SSDI Beneficiaries Dying While Waiting for Medicare

Research by David Powell revealed that during the mandatory two-year waiting period for health insurance, Social Security Disability Insurance beneficiaries die at a substantially higher rate than the general population.

Research Brief: What Makes Cash Transfer Programs Work?

Aaron Richterman, Harsha Thirumurthy, and Jere R. Behrman showed that cash transfer programs in low- and middle-income countries reduce deaths by improving health metrics for women and children.

Hospital Mergers, Medicaid, and Delivery Hospitals

Eric T. Roberts and colleagues found that hospital mergers were associated with changes in where Medicaid patients give birth.

UPCOMING EVENT

A stethoscope on a wood surface with a tag that says Medicaid next to it

Medicaid After HR1: State Challenges and Policy Tradeoffs

Friday, May 1, 2026
12:00–1:00 p.m. ET

A Conversation with Patricia Boozang, MPH, Lanhee Chen, PhD, and Benjamin Sommers. Moderated by Rachel M. Werner, MD, PhD.

Virtual seminar open to the public.

EVENT VIDEO RECAP

Medicare written on a sticky note on top of cash

Is Medicare Advantage Working?

At our recent virtual seminar, an expert panel discussed the benefits and challenges of Medicare Advantage, drawing in a national audience of 1,000+ registrants.

IN THE MEDIA

“As More Americans Embrace Anxiety Treatment, MAHA Derides Medications.” Jason Schnittker. KFF Health News

“13 Years, 6 Doctors and a Lawsuit: The Road to an Endometriosis Diagnosis.” Jasmine Harris. New York Times

“Telemedicine Visits Cost Five Times Less Than In-Clinic Care.” David Asch, Yong Chen, and Kevin Mahoney. U.S. News and World Report

“Lyme Disease Vaccine Shows 70 Percent Efficacy, Pfizer Says.” Robert Aronowitz. Washington Post

“How Collective Intelligence Could Soon Reshape Medical Decision-Making.” Damon Centola. Forbes

PUBLICATIONS

“Cancer Research and Public Health Literacy–Making Sense.” Connie Ulrich, Liza-Marie Johnson, Jamie C. Riches, Louis P. Voigt. JAMA Oncology

“An Electronic Health Record-Based Tobacco Treatment System for Parents in Pediatric Primary Care.” Brian P. Jenssen, Abra M. Jeffers, Emara Nabi-Burza, Janani Ramachandran, Jeritt Thayer, Bethany Hipple Walters, Douglas E. Levy, Robert W. Grundmeier, Olivier Drouin, Mark Vangel, Nancy A. Rigotti, Tyra Bryant-Stephens, Alexander G. Fiks, Jonathan P. Winickoff. Pediatrics

“Maternal Depression and Opioid Use After Cesarean Delivery.” Taylor L. Pitt, Trisha M. Boekhoudt, Kara M. Rood, Hyagriv N. Simhan, Brian M. Casey, Monica Longo, Ruth Landau, Anna Bartholomew, Amber Sowles, Cora MacPherson, Dwight J. Rouse, John M. Thorp Jr., Uma Reddy, Jennifer L. Bailit, Ann M. Bruno, George R. Saade, Suneet P. Chauhan, William A. Grobman, Sindhu K. Srinivas. Obstetrics & Gynecology

“Modeling the Make America Healthy Again's Food Policy Strategy on Tobacco.” Christina A. Roberto, Alyssa J. Moran, Emily Broad Leib. JAMA Health Forum

“MUTTON-HF: Rationale and Design of a Study of an Indigenous Food is Medicine Intervention.” Lauren A. Eberly, Carmen George, Sharon Sandman, Denee Bex, Karianne Jones, Asia Yazzie, Leah Gray, Larissa Morgan, Ada Tennison, Conor Williams, Matt Chandra, Rebecca Wickre, Bennett Wickre, Mackenzie Bolas, Remi Welbel, Delaney Ignace, Benjamin Feliciano, DezBaa Damon-Mallette, Erica Lindsey, Paula Mora, Maricruz Merino, Enrique F. Schisterman, Sonya S. Shin. Circulation: Heart Failure

Penn’s Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics is a national leader in advancing health policy through transformative research.