Health Policy Development, Analysis, and Implementation

UMass Medical School’s Commonwealth Medicine division has a policy team with a wealth of insight into the potential unintended consequences of new or changed health policies. Our experts take a broad view of those effects, and help clients avoid any negative impact that systemwide or discrete health care reforms may have on patients, providers, or the health care system.

In addition to ensuring that our clients’ reforms meet their unique needs, our staff evaluates the operational, financial, and political feasibility of proposed changes. Our data analysis, completed by our Center for Health Law and Economics, provides information essential for developing health policies that function effectively in reality, not just on paper:

  • Determination of the need, scope, capacity, and cost of a new or existing policy
  • Understanding of the environment surrounding the policy under development
  • Identification and analysis of the most relevant data for making informed decisions
  • Incorporation of many types of data, including qualitative and translational policy research
  • Close collaboration with agency staff during all phases of data analysis
  • Clear, consistent communication of analysis results to facilitate decision-making
  • Literature reviews and research analyses to identify best policy practices
  • Analysis of the impact that federal and state laws, regulations, and judicial decisions have on new or existing health care policies

The Commonwealth Medicine division’s team also provides a full range of implementation support for clients:

  • Identification of statutory or regulatory changes needed to implement a health care policy
  • Drafting of federal waivers and Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Plan (SCHIP) State Plan amendments
  • Regulatory and statutory drafting
  • Negotiations with state and federal agencies
  • Program implementation and program improvement feedback
  • Assessment of the impact of policies on affected populations
  • Management of federal, state, and other stakeholder relationships

The research team at our Center for Health Policy and Research provides an evidence base to support, modify, and improve public health care policies. Providing comprehensive research design, methodological, and data analysis support, the Commonwealth Medicine division’s health policy research studies draw on our expertise in several additional areas:

  • Statistical modeling and biostatistics
  • Risk adjustment and population stratification
  • Survey research