The lab disseminates findings in a variety of ways that vary by task. We seek peer review publications when appropriate; the vetting of peer review adds credibility to our work and often wide visibility. We target journals such as Health Affairs or the New England Journal of Medicine because of their wide reach, but we may also target journals such as the American Journal of Managed Care (AJMC, on which Dr. Chernew serves as Co-Editor) for tools and managerial evaluation papers because of wide circulation among senior managers in the health care area. AJMC is mailed to over 39,000+ clinical decision makers and senior leaders in managed care including physicians, hospital directors, and medical and pharmacy directors at managed care organizations.
In addition to peer reviewed publications, we disseminate our work through direct contact with policy makers and industry leaders. Dr. Chernew has regular interaction with numerous leading policymakers on both the federal and state levels. We also disseminate our work to these and other audiences through white papers and policy briefs.
Other HCP faculty members affiliated with the Lab have similar contacts. One significant example is Dr. Richard Frank, who to serves as Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), the principal advisor to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on policy and legislation development, strategic planning, policy research, evaluation and economic analysis. In his previous role as Deputy ASPE from 2009-2011, Dr. Frank noted that policy makers often have immediate needs for rapid evaluation and government contracting processes cannot accommodate those needs. A group such as ours will help meet these needs in multiple parts of the federal (e.g., ASPE, CMS) and state levels.
Dr. Joseph Newhouse is another HCP faculty member with broad and deep affiliations with policy makers. He has served as the Vice Chair of MedPAC as well as a member of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Board of Health Advisors and is a current member of the Comptroller General’s Advisory Committee. Dr. Newhouse has also served on the Committee on National Statistics and on the Science, Technology, and Economic Policy boards of the National Research Council. He is a director of Aetna, Abt Associates, and the National Committee for Quality Assurance.
With regard to industry leaders, Dr. Chernew has frequently addressed insurance groups, provider groups and employers. He has also worked with consulting firms such as Milliman and McKinsey. As a member of the National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM) Foundation Advisory Board and the Health Research Education Trust Board (HRET is an affiliate of the American Hospital Association), he has regular contact with both insurers and providers nationally. Other HCP faculty members have longstanding connections with industry leaders. For example, Dr. Barbara McNeil works closely with the national Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and serves as a member of the Blue Cross Medical Advisory Panel. She reviews and evaluates the success of their activities related to the identification and dissemination of approaches to improving either the quality or the efficiency of care in plans across the country.