Medicaid Policy Impact Initiative at Cornell: A New Era in Health Policy Research
A newly established Medicaid Policy Impact Initiative at Cornell University aims to provide vital research resources for the health care safety net. Led by Dr. William Schpero, a health economist and assistant professor at Weill Cornell Medicine, the initiative seeks to leverage data to effectively inform health policy decisions. Supported by an Arnold Ventures grant exceeding $950,000, the project will develop an online dashboard displaying Medicaid spending across the United States.
Dr. Schpero’s interest in health economics was shaped during his time working with Dr. Jim Yong Kim at Dartmouth College. Here, Dr. Schpero recognized the significant role public policy plays in shaping patient outcomes and health equity. This insight has guided his efforts in health policy research, culminating in the creation of the Medicaid Policy Impact Initiative.
Medicaid, the largest payer of health care services nationwide, remains under-researched compared to Medicare and commercial insurance. State-specific Medicaid programs further complicate data evaluation and the transferability of policy effectiveness from one state to another. To address these challenges, Dr. Schpero co-founded the Medicaid Data Learning Network, fostering collaboration among over 70 institutions and 400 professionals to exchange best practices for working with Medicaid claims data.
Recent legislative changes, such as the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which imposes considerable cuts to Medicaid, have amplified the need for robust evidence to guide policy implementation. “This is the largest shock to Medicaid since the Affordable Care Act,” Dr. Schpero notes, emphasizing the necessity for novel approaches to data utilization.
The Medicaid Policy Impact Initiative unites researchers from Cornell's campuses in Ithaca and New York City to generate actionable policy recommendations. A key component, the Medicaid Atlas Project, will analyze national Medicaid claims to assess variations in spending across states and populations, aiming to inform and improve policy decisions.
Dr. Schpero’s previous work has illuminated the misallocation of federal funds intended for safety-net hospitals and structural barriers within Medicaid, such as "ghost networks" where listed physicians do not adequately serve Medicaid patients. These findings have influenced new federal regulations designed to enhance access to care.
Central to Dr. Schpero’s research is the exploration of disparities in health care access within Medicaid, focusing on racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic factors. He continues to seek policy solutions that enhance health equity. As an associate director at the Cornell Center for Health Equity, he collaborates with colleagues to advance research that reduces health disparities.
Dr. Schpero is driven by a commitment to ensure that research impacts Medicaid’s effectiveness, stressing the need for collaboration with policymakers and communities to ensure evidence shapes policy. Reflecting on his dual interests in journalism and policy research, he notes both fields share a mission to uncover and address complex systemic issues to improve lives.