Center for Advancing Health Policy through Research
CAHPR in the Media
Our experts are available for interviews and media appearances.
CAHPR in the Media
Our experts are available for interviews and media appearances.
Recent Media Coverage
Hospitals are discouraging infection testing to avoid Medicare penalties, a practice clinicians say jeopardizes patient safety and skews public reporting. As Brown University’s Andrew Ryan put it, “Basically, the measures are just really, really bad … this is honestly the worst” pay-for-performance program, underscoring deep flaws in how infection penalties are designed and enforced.
Why UnitedHealth’s Medicare Advantage program is under attack
UnitedHealth’s Medicare Advantage program has come under scrutiny for allegedly exploiting diagnostic “upcoding” practices that drive billions in excess federal payments. Brown University researchers have launched Medicoding.org, a public tool that tracks how diagnostic coding in Medicare Advantage inflates payments to insurers. Health economist David Meyers explains that while some coding reflects real patient needs, much of the increase stems from insurers “gaming the system,” making beneficiaries appear sicker than they are
House lawmakers scrutinize nonprofit hospitals’ tax-exempt status
Republican lawmakers pressed for stricter oversight of nonprofit hospitals at a House hearing, arguing that many exploit tax exemptions while providing limited charity care. Witnesses, including Brown University’s Christopher Whaley, highlighted that current reporting structures obscure hospital-level community benefit, and urged stronger, more transparent requirements to ensure accountability.
Lawmakers can ensure that nonprofit hospitals benefit communities, Brown scholar tells Congress
In testimony before Congress, Brown University researcher Christopher Whaley revealed that many nonprofit hospitals reap massive financial benefits yet spend far less on community health than their tax exemptions are worth. With bipartisan concern mounting, Whaley urged reforms to ensure tax breaks translate into affordable, high-quality care for patients — not executive perks or stadium sponsorships.
Private equity ownership of opioid treatment programs has not improved access or decreased deaths, Brown University study finds
This article reports on a Health Affairs study led by Brown University researchers analyzed over a decade of private equity acquisitions in opioid treatment programs across 43 states. The findings show that despite rapid growth in private equity ownership, there were no measurable improvements in methadone access, treatment expansion, or opioid-related mortality
Private equity's consolidation of opioid treatment market fails to expand methadone access
This article talks about a Health Affairs study led by researchers at CAHPR, University of Pittsburgh and the RAND Corporation on the current PE ownership of opioid treatment programs in the US. Despite acquiring large shares of the market, PE firms are not expanding access to methadone—leaving the treatment gap largely unchanged.
Are Rural Hospitals Truly Rural? Only When Being Rural Pays
A new Health Affairs study reveals that hundreds of urban hospitals have secured “Medicare administratively rural” status—unlocking benefits meant for rural communities. While CMS prepares to roll out its $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program, the findings raise concerns about loopholes, misaligned incentives, and whether subsidizing facilities truly improves access for rural patients.
How States Strengthened Their Health Care Markets in the 2025 Legislative Session
In the first half of 2025, states enacted numerous laws to strengthen their health care markets. These new laws address several recurring policy issues affecting states across the country, including skyrocketing health care costs, increased consolidation in the healthcare sector, and the heightened penetration of private equity in health care systems.
Rhode Island pushes oversight on private equity in health care. Other states should follow.
The proposed sale of two safety net hospitals — from private equity-backed Prospect Medical Holdings to the nonprofit Centurion Foundation — has been closely watched across the state. The Attorney General's updated terms for the sale reflect growing concern over the role of private equity in Rhode Island’s health care system.
Study: urban hospitals are posing as rural facilities to exploit federal funds
A large number of nonprofit hospitals located in urban cities are exploiting a Medicare definition that allows them to be considered both “urban” and “rural” simultaneously, letting them tap generous benefits and reimbursement models specifically intended for rural communities.
Trump’s Demand for Direct Drug Sales Stokes Industry Interest
Drugmakers are experimenting with direct-to-consumer sales in response to Trump’s push for lower drug prices, aiming to bypass traditional middlemen like PBMs. While the strategy could reshape how patients access medications, experts warn its impact on affordability, safety, and equity remains uncertain.
Trump administration tiptoes into testing prior authorization in traditional Medicare
Traditional Medicare plan holders have typically not had to wait for prior authorization before receiving medical treatment. CMS recently announced a new program to test prior authorization requirements for certain services in six states to root out fraud, waste and abuse. Jeffrey Marr highlights what’s needed to set up a well-functioning prior authorization system.
Quarter 2: 2025
Community Focus: Brown University’s Andrew Ryan
This news video features Dr. Andrew Ryan, Director of CAHPR, discussing his study on Rhode Island’s hospital affordability standards, which led to significant hospital price and premium reductions—saving $1,000 per fully insured member by 2022.
Market Power
Professors Erin Fuse Brown and Yashaswini Singh warn that private equity’s focus on short-term returns is reshaping healthcare at the expense of patients and providers. From overburdened hospitals to ethical dilemmas in mental health care, their insights expose how profit-driven ownership can undermine clinical priorities and public trust.
Hospital price growth cap helped lower insurance premiums, Brown study shows
This article reports on a study by CAHPR researchers that found that Rhode Island’s 2010 hospital price growth cap significantly reduced hospital prices and lowered premiums for fully insured health plans by $1,000 per member annually by 2022. However, the policy had limited impact on the self-insured market due to federal ERISA regulations, and the resulting hospital revenue losses have raised concerns about financial sustainability and care quality.
Brown University policy expert talks about the future of telehealth flexibilities
The article discusses Dr. Ateev Mehrotra, chair of the Brown SPH Department of Health Services, Policy and Practice, and his concerns that ongoing temporary telehealth policies are stifling innovation and investment, as he urges permanent federal solutions to ensure long-term access and growth.
Home health care workers are demanding better pay. Cuts to Medicaid could stand in their way.
The article discusses how home health care workers in Rhode Island are fighting for better wages and working conditions through unionization, but their efforts are at risk due to proposed federal Medicaid cuts. David J. Meyers, a health economist at Brown University, warns that such cuts could have a “massive, qualitative impact on people’s lives” and ultimately increase health care spending as unmet needs at home lead to more hospitalizations and emergency visits.
Doctors and nurses at Madison primary care center want a union. It’s a sign of health care changes.
This article discusses how financial pressures, staffing shortages, and management decisions at Wisconsin’s Group Health Cooperative have led to a unionization effort by primary care providers, reflecting broader national challenges facing independent primary care.
FTC study supports scrutiny of physician mergers, economists say
This article reports on a FTC study highlighting how roll-up acquisitions of physician practices—often led by private equity firms—can harm competition, raise prices, and reduce care quality. The study calls for increased scrutiny of serial acquisitions that fall below federal reporting thresholds, and experts say it could lead to stronger antitrust enforcement in healthcare markets.
Yashaswini Singh Named 2025 Aspen Ideas Health Fellow
Nominated by Arnold Ventures, Dr. Singh joined over 100 global fellows in Colorado in June 2025 to explore how market forces are reshaping health care at this year’s “Payoff: Investing in Health” conference by the Aspen Institute.
Lawmakers Seek to Close VA Loophole That Funnels Billions to Private Medicare Insurers
A bipartisan group of lawmakers has introduced legislation to stop Medicare Advantage insurers from collecting billions in federal payments for veterans who primarily receive care through the VA. Sparked by a Wall Street Journal investigation—supported by data from Brown University researchers—the bill aims to close a loophole that enabled an estimated $44 billion in excess payments from 2018 to 2021.
States push hospital price caps to rein in spending
Several states are adopting hospital price caps to curb rising healthcare costs, citing limited success from other reforms. Supporters see savings, while hospitals warn of revenue loss and service cuts. See what CAHPR's Roslyn Murray, PhD has to say.
Quarter 1: 2025
Congress Can Unlock The Full Potential Of Telehealth Through A Permanent Fix
Congress recently extended Medicare’s telehealth flexibilities until March 31, 2025, but the lack of permanent reform creates uncertainty for providers and patients. A long-term solution is needed to sustain telehealth’s benefits, ensure continued access, and drive innovation in health care.
New Medicare telehealth data drops as industry waits on Congress
The article discusses the looming expiration of pandemic-era Medicare telehealth expansions and the ongoing policy debate over their extension, including new research by Ateev Mehrotra and Jared Perkins who suggest that lowering reimbursement rates for telehealth could make its permanent expansion more financially and politically viable.
The Danger of Trump's Deregulation Play — Healthcare without guardrails poses risks to patients and providers alike
The Trump administration's push for deregulation threatens to accelerate vertical integration in healthcare. Brown University professor, Dr. Christopher Whaley warns from existing research how this may lead to referrals to more expensive hospitals ultimately leading to higher costs, reduced competition, and financial strain on independent hospitals, particularly in rural areas as the article discusses.
States consider raising health premiums for their employees
This news article highlights the study led by Dr. Roslyn Murray on potential savings achieved by capping state employee health plans while discussing how rising health care costs are squeezing state dollars.
Nearly half of buyers on individual market picked Colorado Option health plans for 2025
This article talks about two conflicting studies on the Colorado Option emerged—one, funded by the insurance industry, found only 2% of plans met the 10% premium reduction goal, while another, by Brown University researchers and backed by the Commonwealth Fund, highlighted it as a model, estimating $100 lower premiums than similar states without a public option.
Hospitals cry foul as public option enrollment rises
This article covers a Brown University study, published in Health Affairs, which found that the Colorado Option lowered average marketplace premiums by $101 per month since 2020, while exchange premiums nationally rose by 10%.
Colorado hits record for health marketplace signup, though federal uncertainty is on the horizon
This article covers criticisms from Colorado’s Health Care Future, which argues that the program has failed to lower premiums, harmed competition, and reduced consumer choices, while the state cites a Brown University analysis showing it provides affordable coverage and limits premium increases driven by rising hospital and provider costs.
NY hospital prices four times higher than doctor's offices, report finds
This article talks about the analysis conducted by CAHPR researchers who find that routine medical care costs four times more in New York’s outpatient hospital facilities than in doctor’s offices, largely due to added facility fees. Economist Christopher Whaley and other experts have long highlighted such pricing disparities, fueling legislative efforts like the proposed Fair Pricing Act to cap these costs.
Indiana Governor Appoints Business Leader To Shake Up Health Care
Gloria Sachdev has spent years challenging high hospital prices in Indiana, successfully pushing for healthcare cost transparency and legislative reforms. Her efforts, have led to a national report on hospital pricing and significant policy changes in the state.
More primary care physicians are affiliated with hospitals, leading to increased patient costs
The article covers a study published in JAMA Health Forum by Yashaswini Singh and colleagues on the increasing affiliation of primary care physicians with hospitals and private equity firms, leading to higher patient costs without clear improvements in care quality or physician compensation.
Hospital, PE-affiliated primary care docs charge higher prices than independents, study finds
This article discusses a study led by Dr. Yashaswini and published in JAMA Health Forum on trends in physician practice ownership, showing a significant shift from independent practices to corporate ownership, as well as the associated price increases, with hospital and PE-affiliated practices charging higher fees, and its implications for healthcare costs and quality.
Indie No More: Nearly Half of Primary Care Docs Now Affiliated With Health Systems
This article highlights the study led by Dr. Yashaswini Singh on the growing affiliation of primary care physicians with hospitals and private equity firms along with increasing healthcare costs that come with these affiliations.
How Research Shapes Health Policy on Capitol Hill
Jared Perkins, Director of Health Policy Strategy at CAHPR discusses bridging the gap between academia and policymakers, the challenges of navigating health policy under a shifting political climate, and the importance of aligning research with legislative priorities.
New Harvard study raises concerns about hospital control by private equity
A new Harvard Medical School study found that patient satisfaction declines after PE takeovers due to cost-cutting measures, including staffing reductions. Dr. Yashaswini Singh from CAHPR comments on how patient experiences are crucial to understanding the broader effects of PE in healthcare, a frequently underrated aspect in studies on PE's impact on healthcare.
Doctors unions, like the one on strike at Providence, are growing more common
Physicians, traditionally less unionized, are aligning with nurses and other healthcare workers due to shared grievances over understaffing, burnout, and corporate cost-cutting practices exacerbated by the pandemic. Hayden Rooke-Ley comments on this trend highlighting his study that found that the number of physician unions formed between January 2023 and May 2024 nearly equaled those established over the previous two decades (2000–2022).
OHSU's takeover of Legacy Health would violate federal market standards, advocates say
The article discusses the proposed merger of Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and Legacy Health, which has drawn significant criticism for potentially violating federal antitrust standards. Advocates argue the merger would lead to excessive market consolidation in Oregon, controlling a majority of hospitals in key regions and potentially driving up healthcare costs without improving access or quality.
Bill would limit hospital fees in Nevada’s public employee health system
A Nevada bill aims to cap hospital fees for the Public Employees’ Benefits Program to reduce costs, drawing on Oregon's model, which researcher Roslyn Murray of Brown University studied and found led to significant savings without shifting costs to private insurers.
Quarter 4: 2024
UnitedHealth Group's insurance arm, UnitedHealthcare, pays its own Optum physician practices significantly higher rates than other providers in the same markets, driving up costs for consumers and employers while enriching itself. This practice highlights the conflicts of interest and anti-competitive effects of vertical integration in healthcare, raising calls for regulatory intervention.
Congress’ critical opportunity to reshape health care
The article written by CAHPR researchers, emphasizes the opportunity for Congress, in its final weeks of the 118th session, to advance healthcare affordability and transparency through the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act (LCMT) and the Health Care PRICE Transparency Act 2.0
Hospital billing practices won billions in extra payments, study finds
This article highlights a study by Christopher Whaley showing how hospitals have received billions in extra payments by documenting care at higher levels of complexity than expected. This practice, known as "upcoding," raises concerns about the incentives in current payment systems and their impact on rising healthcare costs.
The Gilded Age of Medicine Is Here
This article dives into the controversial world of private equity in healthcare, where profit-driven strategies lead to higher patient costs and declining care quality. This article examines real examples, from staffing cuts to surprise billing, and explores how these changes threaten physician autonomy and the stability of U.S. healthcare.
Study: Hospital payment caps could save millions for state employee health plans
This news article covers the study led by CAHPR researchers who found that state employee health plans could save over $7 billion annually by capping hospital payments at 200% of Medicare rates. The findings suggest that such caps could ease budgetary pressures while minimizing disruptions to hospital operations.
Hospital Payment Caps Could Safely Save Millions
This news article provides continued coverage of the study by CAHPR researchers on hospital payment caps, and it's potential for saving billions without harming hospital finances.
Hospital payment caps could save millions of dollars for state employee health plans
This news article offers continued coverage on the impact of hospital payment caps and the potential for nationwide savings, based on the Health Affairs study led CAHPR researchers at the Brown University School of Public Health.
Critical access hospitals face uphill battle: 6 things to know
This article explores the study by researchers from Johns Hopkins University and CAHPR at Brown University, which examines financial disparities between critical access hospitals (CAHs) and larger acute care hospitals from 2016 to 2022. The study highlights significant financial disparities, showing that system-affiliated critical access hospitals (CAHs) achieved higher operating margins than independent ones and highlights the need to balance financial sustainability with the risks of uneven care access and higher prices.
California’s Failed Bid To Regulate Private Equity Investment In Health Care
The article examines California’s failed attempt to regulate private equity investments in healthcare through AB 3129, which proposed stricter transaction oversight and protections against corporate control of medical practices. It critiques the bill’s limited scope, exemptions, and political challenges while positioning it as a case study for future state-level reforms in addressing healthcare consolidation.
The Sickest Patients Are Fleeing Private Medicare Plans—Costing Taxpayers Billions
An increasing number of Medicare Advantage patients, especially those in their final year of life, are switching to traditional Medicare, leading to a significant cost shift from private insurers to taxpayers.
OHSU-Legacy merger: Regulators explore antitrust concerns
This article examines the Oregon Health Authority's comprehensive review of the proposed merger between OHSU and Legacy Health, highlighting key concerns about market concentration, potential cost increases, and the future of health care access and competition in the region.
Oregon regulators plan deep dive on OHSU-Legacy merger: 6 things to know
This article outlines six key points about Oregon's regulatory review of the OHSU-Legacy merger. Hayden Rooke-Ley's critique of the OHSU-Legacy merger, emphasizing how OHSU's broad market definition may obscure significant anticompetitive risks, presenting a critical test for Oregon's Health Care Market Oversight program.
The profit-obsessed monster destroying American emergency rooms
This article explores how private equity firms have taken control of many U.S. emergency rooms, prioritizing profit by reducing physician hours, replacing doctors with less qualified staff, and inflating costs, resulting in compromised patient care and increased bills, despite regulatory efforts like the No Surprises Act.
Medicare Advantage insurers fear losing millions over a few bad phone calls
This article examines lawsuits from Medicare Advantage insurers, who claim minor customer service issues threaten millions in bonuses, while experts like Brown University's David Meyers argue that these cases reveal deeper flaws in a rating system that overstates plan quality without accurately reflecting patient care.
Private Medicare plans collect billions for care veterans are actually getting from VA
This article explores a study led by Brown University researchers on the billions in potentially redundant payments Medicare Advantage plans receive for veterans primarily cared for by the VA, despite industry claims, like those from UnitedHealthcare, that these payments reflect actual costs.
Are Democrats Even a Little Serious About Stopping Private Equity?
The article exposes Ralph de la Torre's misuse of private equity-backed Steward Health for personal gain while highlighting the broader issue of private equity's damaging impact on healthcare, with legislative efforts for reform largely stymied by political and lobbying pressures.
Critical Access Hospitals Feel Unique Financial Strain
This article highlights a study led by Dr. Christopher Whaley that shows that while system affiliation helps improve CAHs’ financial stability, it often results in higher prices for patients.
Quarter 3: 2024 Media Coverage
Hospital Payment Caps: ‘Band Aid’ or Promising Cost-Control Solution?
This article explores the study done by Brown researchers on the imapct of Oregon's hospital payment cap and how other US states have an opportunity to implement similar control measures to achieve health savings.
The Rise Of Health Care Consolidation And What To Do About It
CAHPR researchers examine the economic and healthcare implications of consolidation within the U.S. healthcare system while proposing legislative solutions aimed at curbing the adverse effects of consolidation.
The FTC's Noncompete Rule: Legal Challenges And Potential Solutions For Physician Markets
The FTC's nationwide ban on non-compete agreements, originally set to take effect on September 4, 2024, is now entangled in legal battles that challenge the agency's authority. This article explores the ongoing debates, highlighting the loopholes in the current rule, and prescribes potential policy solutions.
Medicare Advantage plans got ‘alarming’ break from the U.S. government a decade ago: Here’s why
A decade ago, CMS tried to rein in Medicare Advantage overbilling, only to withdraw amid industry pressure, now fueling a $2 billion fraud case against UnitedHealth. Newly released court documents expose the struggle to protect taxpayer dollars while navigating powerful industry pushback.
Are Changes To The Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Driving Value In US Health Care?
The Medicare Physician Fee Schedule is a cornerstone of U.S. healthcare policy, directly influencing how services are priced and covered. This Health Affairs blog delves into a brief analysis of the CY25 Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Changes and what impact it could have moving forward.
Price transparency is critical to fix nation’s health care model, Brown scholar tells Congress
Christopher Whaley, testified before Congress, highlighting the urgent need of health care price transparency and its role in combating high healthcare costs in the US and enhancing policy decision-making.
How Payment Caps Can Reduce Hospital Prices and Spending: Lessons from the Oregon State Employee Plan
This issue brief provides key lessons for other states interested in hospital payment caps. These include setting caps above Medicare rates but below typical state plan prices to maintain provider participation, exempting small and rural hospitals to protect vulnerable facilities, and legislating payment caps to ensure long-term stability. Oregon’s approach offers valuable insights for states seeking to control health care spending while ensuring access to care.
Quarter 2: 2024 Media Coverage
Medicare payment parity key to saving independent physicians, Dr. Ashish Jha tells Congress
Dr. Ashish K. Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, addressed the House Committee on Ways and Means on why the U.S. is seeing a decline in private medical practices and what we can do about it.
What's Driving Healthcare Consolidation? The Answer May Surprise You
Healthcare consolidation is fueled by the need for pricing power and financial stability under value-based care, but experts warn this trend threatens competition and transparency, calling for stronger oversight and legislative action.
Private equity escapes FTC in court, but anesthesia group doesn’t
The PE firm, Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe has been released from the ongoing case against U.S. Anesthesia Partners, for monopolization in Texas. What does this mean for PE firms and antitrust scrutiny?
Is Private Equity Ruining Health Care? It's Complicated
Is private equity good AND bad? Listen to experts including Dr. Yashaswini Singh talk about private equity with a nuanced approach.
State Treasurer Folwell Releases Report Finding North Carolina 340B Hospitals Overcharged State Employees for Cancer Drugs, Reaped Thousands of Dollars in Profits Per Claim
State Treasurer Folwell's recent report with insights from Christopher Whaley unveils startling findings: North Carolina's 340B hospitals have been overcharging the state, shedding light on critical financial discrepancies in healthcare funding.
‘Very, very unusual.’ Is Valley Children’s taking more than it’s giving back?
This article featuring Chris Whaley delves into whether the Valley Children's Hospital's actions align with its mission and the nonprofit ethos it claims to uphold.
FTC poised to shake up health care
Erin Fuse Brown weighs in on the potential impact of the FTC's new rules against noncompete agreements, analyzing how this significant shift could empower healthcare workers and reshape the dynamics of the industry.
Big corporations are quietly taking over your medical practice. Some doctors and experts say it's ruining healthcare.
Amidst a silent surge of corporate takeovers in healthcare, Yashaswini Singh offers crucial insights into how these acquisitions are quietly transforming patient care and escalating costs, often beyond the public eye.
Hospital care costs are out of control. Price caps can help
This article discusses Oregon's successful experiment in implementing price caps on hospital services, saving $107.5 million in two years, suggesting a viable solution for states battling soaring healthcare costs.
Quarter 1: 2024 Media Coverage
2025 Medicare Advantage Advance Notice: Small Changes, Missed Opportunities
Under the CMS 2025 Medicare Advantage Advance Notice, CAHPR researchers emphasize the expected revenue increases and minor changes in risk adjustment practices; highlighting the impactful changes on the horizon and the critical reforms that still await attention.
Congress Has The Opportunity To Deliver Health Care Price Transparency
Health care price transparency has seen growing support from policy makers and the US public alike. This article delves into the measures Congress has implemented to enhance transparency around health care costs and explores avenues for enhancing existing laws.
Hospital payment cap slashes prices in Ore.
Rev Cycle Management, an information avenue for revenue cycle management writes on the Health Affairs study led by Brown researchers on the impact of hospital payment caps in Oregon and the health savings achieved for the state.
Oregon lawmakers could limit corporate ownership of medical practices
Oregon bill, HB 4130, aims to impose some of the strictest limits on corporate ownership of primary care and specialty clinics, targeting the influence of large companies and private equity firms.
Attack of the Straw Doctors
This article looks at how private equity firms are increasingly employing "straw doctors" to circumvent restrictions on corporate ownership of medical practices -- threatening the quality of patient care and the integrity of the medical profession.
Opinion | Private equity firms are gnawing away at U.S. health care
Ashish Jha casts a critical eye on the influence of private equity in healthcare, illuminating how these acquisitions not only escalate costs but also fundamentally reshape the quality and accessibility of medical care.
Older Americans say they feel trapped in Medicare Advantage plans
Read this NPR article or listen to the All Things Considered NPR broadcast featuring Dr. David Meyers where he talks about the difficulties a beneficiary can face when enrolled in Medicare Advantage.
2022 Media Coverage
The Pros and Cons of Medicare Advantage
Explore Medicare Advantage and how it compares to Traditional Medicare.
Which to Choose: Medicare or Medicare Advantage?
David Meyers, a health services researcher at Brown University, and his colleagues have been tracking differences between original Medicare and Medicare Advantage for years, using data from millions of people.
General Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the news articles do not reflect those of Brown University.