Welcome to the Institute on Healthcare Systems
CHRISTOPHER P. TOMPKINS, PH.D.
Director
The Institute on Healthcare Systems (IHS) is dedicated to bringing greater knowledge to both private and public policy makers by comprehensively examining issues and their context, and using data to inform decision making.
Historically, our strengths have been in the areas of payment and financing. This is grounded in Stuart Altman and Stan Wallack's vast experience in national health policy, and has grown to include cutting edge thinking on value based purchasing, typified by Christopher Tompkins' recent work for CMS in this area. Christine Bishop is a national expert on financing for long term care, although her interests are broad and cover a number of labor issues. Donald Shepard and Bill Stason have both done pioneering work in cost effectiveness analysis.
IHS staff also covers a range of delivery systems issues, such as Cindy Thomas' work in pharmacy policy and Deborah Gurewich's expertise in community health centers. Walter Leutz brings a distinguished career in re-designing delivery systems to meet the needs of elders, particularly fragile elders based in the community.
Given the broad range of work done at IHS, our research spans both quantitative and qualitative techniques. Jeff Prottas, for example, is an expert in case methodologies and has applied this approach across a number of topical areas. Grant Ritter, Tim Martin, John Chapman and Beth Mohr provide expertise in statistics and analysis using large claims data sets.
Policy analysis is an important component of the work at IHS and is led by Rob Mechanic at the Health Industry Forum and Michael Doonan at the Massachusetts Health Policy Forum. Their supporting team includes Palmira Santos, Darren Zinner and Ellen Grody.
Spotlight
Recent Publication
- Thomas CP, Kim M, McDonald A, Kreiner P, Kelleher SJ, Blackman MB, Kaufman PN, Carrow GM. Prescribers' expectations and barriers to electronic prescribing of controlled substances. Journal of American Medical Informatics Association published online September 21, 2011 doi:10.1136/amiajnl-2011-000209.full.html Project funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
Council on Health Care Economics
May 23-25, 2011
Princeton Conference XVIII
Where Do We Go From Here: The Future of Health Reform
The Eighteenth Princeton Conference was held at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in Princeton, New Jersey on May 23-25, 2011. At this conference, nationally recognized experts discussed and analyzed the passage of the Obama health care legislation, lessons learned from the past and what the future might hold....more
Massachusetts Health Policy Forum
November 30, 2010
Accountable Health Care Delivery: Models and Policy Actions for Massachusetts
As Massachusetts seeks to control costs and improve the efficiency of the health care delivery system, this forum highlights five organizations as models for progress: Norton Healthcare in Louisville...
Advice to the Governor:
Tough Medicine
October 19, 2010
A statewide global budget is needed to control the rising cost of health care, write Stuart Altman and Robert Mechanic in CommonWealth magazine.
IHS Co-Hosts Conference for Over 60 Healthcare Foundations
July, 2010
The Institute on Healthcare Systems and the Sillerman Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy hosted over 60 healthcare foundations for a one-day conference on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). The primary focus was the role of regional actors in levering or supporting reform.
Testimony
March 19, 2010
Massachusetts Hearings on Health Care Provider and Payer Costs and Cost Trends
Heller Experts Participate in Massachusetts Hearings on Health Care Cost Trends
March 16, 2010
On March 16, 18 & 19, 2010, Heller School health care experts participated in public hearings on health care cost trends sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Health and Human Services. The Division of Health Care Finance & Policy in collaboration with the Office of the Attorney General is holding these annual hearings regarding health care costs, provider and insurer costs, and strategies to mitigate these cost trends.
moreUpcoming Events
Save the Date!
October 26, 2011
MASSACHUSETTS HEALTH POLICY FORUM
Beyond Parity: Mental Health and Addiction Care Under Delivery System and Payment Reform