Health Policy Research Center
The New York State Health Policy Research Center (HPRC), a program of the Rockefeller Institute of Government, provides relevant, nonpartisan research and analysis of state health policy issues for New York State and national policymakers. With funding support from the New York State Health Foundation and other foundations, HPRC uses its in-house staff of health policy experts, as well as national experts, to build on the Rockefeller Institute’s strength in analyzing the role of state and local governments in financing, administering, and regulating state health care systems. HPRC releases research papers and presents forums and presentations on important state health policy issues, and also provides a resource page for New York State and national health policymakers. Much of HPRC’s work builds on its ongoing Medicaid and bioethics research.
Contact: Courtney Burke
Current and Ongoing Research:
Improving access to health insurance coverage in the small group insurance market: HPRC staff and national experts are studying policies and programs in New York and other states that attempt to increase health insurance coverage for small business owners and employees. The project is part of a larger effort, the “Coverage Consortium,” funded by the New York State Health Foundation, to research successful methods for covering the uninsured.
Providing and Facilitating Health Policy Research Efforts for New York State: HPRC is working collaboratively with the New York State Department of Health to facilitate research that improves access to public health insurance. This work also is supported by the New York State Health Foundation.
Variation in State Long-Term Care Policies and Spending: States’ long-term care policies vary greatly. This research is examining states’ long-term care policies and expenditures.
Bioethics: HPRC is examining the current and potential role of states in the development and implementation of bioethical standards for such complex and controversial areas as embryonic stem cell research and nanotechnology. This initiative is a partnership with the Alden March Bioethics Institute (AMBI) at Albany Medical College. It includes collaborators from AMBI, Albany Law School, and the Stanford University Center for Medical Ethics. For more information about the Center's bioethics research, please contact Jim Fossett.
Implementation of the Commission on Health Care Facilities for the 21st Century: The Berger Commission developed recommendations in 2006 for rightsizing and reconfiguring New York State’s acute and long-term care systems. The Institute, whose staff participated in the Regional Advisory Committee for the Commission, is now monitoring implementation.
Medicaid: HPRC's Medicaid research has examined a wide range of issues from Medicaid politics and finances, the role of Medicaid in financing the activities of faith-affiliated organizations, the effectiveness of efforts in many states to increase enrollment in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Medicaid and nonprofit organizations, long-term care, and the implementation of Medicaid managed care. For more information about the Center's Medicaid research, please contact Courtney Burke.
State Health Policy & Intergovernmental Relations: The Institute continually researches and publishes articles on the role of state government in health policy and the interaction between levels of government in the policy making process. For more information, please visit HPRC’s publications section.
Previous Research:
Medicaid Funding for Nonprofit Health Care Providers: This research, published in 2007 and funded by the Aspen Institute, examined how Medicaid supported a wide range of nonprofit providers—providing between $85-$105 billion in funding in Fiscal Year 2004.
Health Research for the New York State Division of the Budget: In 2005 and 2006, staff conducted research that compared New York with other states in regard to acute care spending and policies, long-term care spending and policies, Medicaid waivers, enrolling Medicaid eligibles, Medicaid administration, Medicaid fraud, and covering the uninsured.
Medicaid and State Budgets: In 2003 and 2004, the Institute examined state responses to the fiscal crises. The research, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, found Medicaid was less likely to be cut than other programs.
Medicaid and Faith-Based Organizations: Through the Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy, research examined the degree to which faith-based organizations receive Medicaid money. The effects of the state fiscal crises on nonprofit social service providers and faith-based providers also were examined.
Medicaid Enrollment and Take-Up: This multi-state research, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, examined the effectiveness of efforts in many states to increase enrollment in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
Medicaid Managed Care: This multi-state study examined implementation and administration challenges to Medicaid managed care.