FEATURE STORIES

Assessing Direct-to-Consumer Drug Advertising

Abby Alpert evaluated evidence to address common concerns about direct-to-consumer drug ads.

Administrative Policies, SNAP, and Food Insecurity

Sameed Khatana, Scott Lorch, and Atheendar Venkataramani examined whether differences in state-level SNAP policies involving eligibility and administrative burden were linked to county food insecurity rates.

ACA Marketplace Offerings Differ By County

Hanming Fang studied the extent to which Marketplace insurers exclude some counties and its impact on competition and price.

How One Study Saved Preventive Care

A study by Jalpa Doshi showed how even small copays reduced the use of PrEP, which became integral to a Supreme Court case on preventive care.

Top LDI Content in 2025

Our top research, policy, and news content highlighted LDI Fellows’ impactful contributions to the most pressing health care and health policy debates facing the nation in 2025.

 CALL FOR FACULTY MENTORS

Mentor a 2026 SUMR Scholar

Applications to be a mentor are open for the Summer Undergraduate Mentored Research Program (SUMR). Join us for breakfast at the Mentor Information Session on January 15 from 8:30–10:00 a.m. Mentor applications are due March 15.

 UPCOMING EVENTS

Drug Pricing in Trump 2.0: Where Are We and What's Ahead?

Friday, January 16, 2026
12:00–1:00 p.m. ET

A Conversation with Avik Roy, Rachel Sachs, JD, MPH, and Marta Wosinska, PhD. Moderated by Rachel M. Werner, MD, PhD.

Virtual seminar open to the public.

Research Seminar with Riley League, PhD

Thursday, January 29, 2026
12:00–1:00 p.m. ET

Fragmented Insurance and Billing Frictions: Understanding Denied Health Care Insurance Claims

In-person event open to Penn affiliates.

EVENT VIDEO RECAPS

Financing Long-Term Care

Over 700 registrants tuned in to hear top experts discuss policy options and the political landscape shaping long-term care.

$50 Billion Rural Health Transformation Program

Over 1,000 registrants heard national experts discuss the challenges facing rural health care access.

IN THE MEDIA

“Older Americans Quit Weight Loss Drugs in Droves.” Ezekiel J. Emanuel. KFF Health News

“More Seniors are Becoming Homeless. Shelters are Trying To Adapt.” Dennis Culhane. NPR

“Lawmaker Proposes Bill on Cancer Coverage.” Anna Jo Smith. Times Observer

“Here’s How to Make Resolutions Stick, According to a Behavior Change Scientist.” Katherine Milkman. Washington Post

“Penn Researchers Gamified Walking to Boost Heart Health, and Won a $25 Million Grant.” Alexander Fanaroff. Philadelphia Inquirer

PUBLICATIONS

“Children's Enrollment in Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Coverage During the Medicaid Unwinding.” Erica L. Eliason, Daniel B. Nelson, Aditi Vasan. Health Services Research

“Specialty Oral Anticancer Prescription Fill Rates After Medicare Part D Cost-Sharing Changes in 2024.” John K. Lin, Pengxiang Li, Xiudong Lei, Sunita M. Desai, Jalpa A. Doshi. JAMA

“Poor Patient Care Outcomes and Nurse Job Outcomes Associated With Unfavorable Intensive Care Unit and Emergency Department Nurse Work Environments: Implications for Critical Care Medicine.” Kathryn Jane Muir, Daniela Golinelli, Kathryn Connell, Karen B. Lasater, Matthew D. McHugh. Value in Health

“Validity and Responsiveness of EuroQol 5 Dimension 5 Level in the Abortion Care Setting.” Emma Gilmore, Arden McAllister, Louise B. Russell, Melissa Montoya, Nathanael C. Koelper, Courtney A. Schreiber, Heidi S. Harvie. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

“Housing Cost Burden and Outcomes Among Medicaid Beneficiaries With Heart Failure.” Joniqua N. Ceasar, Lin Yang, Lauren A. Eberly, Ashwin S. Nathan, Eric T. Roberts, Vincent J. Reina, Peter W. Groeneveld, Sameed M. Khatana. JAMA Health Forum

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