New Health Equity Project aims to significantly reduce health disparities for vulnerable residents in five Michigan counties
The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has pledged to provide a $9 million Medicaid match to launch a new Health Equity Project in five Michigan counties. The Health Equity Project aims to help these counties reduce health disparities associated with pressing social needs such as housing instability, food insecurity, transportation, health system complexity, and other socioeconomic factors …
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Bridge Magazine, In The Media: Melissa Riba quoted in Bridge Michigan on reinstituted copays and deductibles for COVID-19 patient cost-sharing
Bridge Michigan’s Robin Erb and Makayla Coffee quote Melissa Riba, director of research and evaluation at the Center for Health and Research Transformation (CHRT), in “Costs rising for Michigan COVID care with return of deductibles, copays.” The story discusses an upcoming shift in patient cost burden for COVID-related illnesses—costs that have largely been waived by Michigan’s largest insurers for more …
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Welcome new staff and interns
CHRT is pleased to introduce its newest hires in finance, data use, and programming. New finance team members will enhance our organization’s ability to conduct financial planning, ensure compliance, and improve operational procedures. New programmatic staff members bring expertise in health information technology, data use, public policy, mental health and substance use disorders, and more. Gudrun Bossman Gudrun Bossmann is …
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New CHRT projects focus on integration, learning networks, and social determinants of health
CHRT has launched six new projects over the past few months, including designing a public health and primary care integration demonstration project, participating in a learning action network team to support integrated delivery networks, launching a new practicum and fellowship for Detroit Health Department staff members, and providing training in communicating for policy change to a national network of cancer …
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In The Media, Journal of General Internal Medicine: The effects of case management on ED use: CHRT research published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine
In a new piece published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, Predictive model-driven hotspotting to decrease emergency department visits: A randomized controlled trial, Center for Health and Research Transformation (CHRT) staff report the results of the largest randomized trial examining the effects of case management on emergency department (ED) use. The study was conducted by faculty and staff from Northeastern …
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In The Media, Michigan Radio: Karin Teske and Marissa Rurka discuss new survey findings about COVID vaccine hesitancy and avoidance
Michigan Radio’s Kate Wells quotes Karin Teske and Marissa Rurka senior analysts at the Center for Health and Research Transformation (CHRT), in “Here are the biggest reasons Michiganders say they don’t want the COVID vaccine.” The article describes CHRT’s recent analysis of vaccine hesitancy and avoidance, using data from a supplemental Cover Michigan survey that examined trends in vaccination rates …
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U.S. News and World Report: CHRT Fellow Dr. Romesh Nalliah warns against dental opioid prescriptions in American Journal of Preventive Medicine study covered by U.S. News
CHRT Health Policy fellow Dr. Romesh Nalliah recently published an article entitled “Dental Opioid Prescriptions and Overdose Risk in Patients and Their Families” in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine. The study analyzed data from 8.5 million Americans who received dental work between 2011 and 2018. They found that the overall rate of opioid overdoses was 2.5 times higher among …
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New projects focus on innovative financing models for supportive housing, peer support for SUD, and community paramedicine
The Center for Health and Research Transformation (CHRT) has taken on several new projects. The three most recent projects include research on innovative financing models for supportive housing, a pilot for a peer support program for those struggling with Substance Use Disorder (SUD), and an analysis of Huron Valley Ambulance’s Community Paramedicine program. For the first project, CHRT is conducting …
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Please join us in welcoming our newest team members, who bring expertise in gerontology, sociology, and user experience
Marissa Rurka Marissa Rurka is a senior research and evaluation analyst at CHRT and a PhD candidate in gerontology and sociology. Before joining CHRT, Marissa assisted with an evaluation of Minnesota’s value-based reimbursement policies for nursing facilities. In particular, her role was to evaluate a measure of long-stay resident quality of life. Prior to that, Marissa served as a research …
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New Board Members: Toshiki Masaki of the Asian and Pacific American Affairs Commission and Dr. Amy McKenzie of BCBSM
CHRT is delighted to welcome to its board of directors Toshiki Masaki, former chair of the State of Michigan Asian and Pacific American Affairs Commission, and Dr. Amy McKenzie, associate chief medical officer for provider engagement at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Amy McKenzie, MD, MBA is a board-certified family medicine physician with 13 years of experience in private …
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