1% problems in the US Health System

Proposal Description:

Ask a health policy expert why health spending in the US is higher than it is in other nations and you will likely hear about three factors: higher prices, greater use of technology, and higher administrative costs. Ask an expert about how to reduce spending and you’ll often hear about the urgent need for payment reform. Unfortunately, speaking about health spending at that level of aggregation and abstraction makes it difficult to identify the precise steps necessary to reduce spending. This project aims to shift the way we talk about health care spending and focus on discrete, concrete problems that raise health care costs. In this project, the research team will draw upon the expertise of leading health economists to produce a series of short, accessible policy briefs that identify 1 percent health spending issues—issues that raise health spending by approximately a percentage point relative to what is spent by other nations. The overarching aim of the project is to draw on the collective experience of some of the leading health economists to shift how we talk about the sources of high health spending in the US. Our goal with this project is explicit: to influence public policy and identify concrete areas where policy-makers can make progress reducing health care spending. Proposals will be data-driven.

Requisite Skills and Qualifications:

Applicants should be completing or have completed a Bachelors or Master’s degree and have strong programming skills. Preference will be given to detail-oriented applicants with programming experience and strong communications skills. We also encourage individuals with previous experience in economic consulting to apply.