John Z. Ayanian, MD, MPP

13 Jan

As of January 16, 2026, this account will continue to post updates & news from IHPI, highlighting the work of our members & initiatives. But it will now do so on behalf of IHPI director John Z. Ayanian, MD, MPP, with help from staff. See our Starter Pack of IHPI members: go.bsky.app/NFo2BNF 🩺📊 🛟

As #Medicare Open Enrollment begins, our new poll data sheds light on how people over 65 choose coverage, and how aware they are of #healthpolicy decisions affecting it. Key finding: 60% take an hour or less to review their options. Poll report: michmed.org/Jd9mJ Press release: michmed.org/nMzGW

How do Michiganders make Medicare decisions? Our poll finds they're not much different than their counterparts nationwide. michmed.org/GY97B Thanks to the Michigan Health Endowment Fund for supporting our Michigan Poll on Healthy Aging.

Tomorrow, our National Poll on Healthy Aging will release new findings on how older adults make #Medicare choices during Open Enrollment. I'll share those, plus observations from our evaluation of Michigan's #Medicaid expansion, at this @crainsdetroit.bsky.social event: web.cvent.com/event/9e4939...

Here are the national poll findings: michmed.org/Jd9mJ And the Michigan-specific findings: michmed.org/GY97B There's also a press release here: michmed.org/nMzGW

ihpi.umich.eduNational patient safety award for Sanjay Saint

Congratulations to Dr. Sanjay Saint, one of the founding members of our @umich.edu healthcare research institute, on receiving a top #patientsafety award from the Joint Commission this week: ihpi.umich.edu/news-events/... We all wish him well in his new role at @northwellhealth.bsky.social

ihpi.umich.eduClimate, Health, and Beyond: An NEJM Editor’s Perspective on Publishing Your Work

Join IHPI's Oct. 7 webinar featuring Caren G. Solomon, senior deputy editor @nejm.org, for insights on #climate and #health research 🌎, publishing 📝, and communicating why research matters to broad audiences. Learn more & register: ihpi.umich.edu/news-events/...

And if you’re a U-M researcher with interests at the intersection of #climate, health and healthcare, attend this in-person community gathering on Sept. 30 to discover work happening across campus and exchange ideas with colleagues from different disciplines: ihpi.umich.edu/news-events/...

23 Sept

Interesting new work by a team of IHPI members from @umisr.bsky.social:

This post is unavailable.

21 Sept

In a new paper in @jamanetworkopen.com, colleagues Vineeth Amba of Mt. Sinai, Sumit Agarwal & Renuka Tipirneni of U-M, and I examine the 'roller coaster' of health insurance access, work hours & income that many low- and middle-income American working adults are on: jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

ihpi.umich.eduStudy reveals the work & health insurance roller coaster millions of Americans rideNew changes to Medicaid and ACA Marketplace may affect many low- and middle-income workers in volatile jobs who have limited access to employment-based health insurance

21 Sept

There's a summary of the findings, and more about the implications for insurance coverage in 2027 as Medicaid and ACA Marktplace #healthpolicy changes take effect, on the website of our U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation: ihpi.umich.edu/news-events/...

21 Sept

This short video, invoking Dolly Parton's famous song "9 to 5", summarizes our findings and their implications - and might get your toe tapping too.

19 Sept

Our annual tailgate for the @umich.edu Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation is a prized tradition that brings together faculty, scholars & their partners & families. Even if they aren't going to the game. Today, thankfully, it's indoors. ☔ Members, join us: ihpi.umich.edu/news-events/...

14 Sept

Congrats to the 2026 recipients of IHPI's Sandy-Hassmiller Early Career Health Services Research Award! Joy Chang & Jazzmyne Montgomery of U-M Medical School & Spruha Joshi @umichsph.bsky.social will each receive ~$10,000 to advance innovative, equity-focused projects: ihpi.umich.edu/news-events/...

14 Sept

And many thanks to Lew Sandy and Sue Hassmiller for their generous gift that made this support for our researchers possible!

9 Sept

Today, we had two great gatherings of IHPI faculty members & staff: one to welcome more @umich.edu #primarycare researchers who’ve moved into our HQ building, the other to share a sweet treat with our #healthservicesresearch community as we kick off the academic year. Thanks to all who joined us!

ihpi.umich.eduBecome a MemberLearn more about the benefits of joining the largest university-based community of health services researchers.

9 Sept

As we enter our 16th year, IHPI now has a membership of 840 University of Michigan faculty from all three campuses and most schools and colleges. If you have just joined U-M, or know someone who has, here’s information on how to apply for IHPI membership: ihpi.umich.edu/about/become...

myemail.constantcontact.comIHPI Informs - August 2026Email from U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation AUGUST 2026 NEWS TO NOTE Timely news and information POLICY IMPACT SNAPSHOT Improving substance use disorder treatment through in

2 Sept

Every month, our institute publishes a newsletter aimed at keeping policymakers, journalists, community members, alumni, and others informed about the work of the 800+ members of @umich.edu health services researchers. Check out the latest issue: myemail.constantcontact.com/IHPI-Informs...

Institute for Social Research (ISR) - University of Michigan

2 Sept

Want to stay on top of the latest news from our healthcare and #healthpolicy research community at IHPI? Sign up for our monthly Informs newsletter here: ihpi.umich.edu/newsletter-s... To get every IHPI news story as soon as it's published, subscribe to our RSS feed: ihpi.umich.edu/subscribe-ou...

John Z. Ayanian, MD, MPP reposted

@umisr.bsky.social

31 Aug

CSCAR@ISR is now supporting U-M faculty, staff and graduate students with statistical consulting, workshops and research support. Expertise from ISR, Statistics and Biostatistics. Explore CSCAR@ISR and learn how the team can support your research: cscar.isr.umich.edu @bradytwest.bsky.social

ihpi.umich.eduPolicy Impact Snapshot: Improving Substance Use Disorder Treatment Through Incentive-Based CareLara Coughlin’s research on substance use disorders and addiction care informs policy and practice at the local, state, and national levels.

28 Aug

Our institute prides itself on recognizing work that has made a difference in clinical practice and #healthpolicy through our annual Policy Impact Award. Dr. Coughlin was one of this year's recipients for this work, and this summary shows why.

Lara Coughlin, PhD & Allison Lin, MD@addictioncaremi.bsky.social

🌟NEWfrom U-M’s Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation: “Policy Impact Snapshot: Improving Substance Use Disorder Treatment Through Incentive-Based Care.” 🌟See how MI-ACRE Co-Director Dr. Lara Coughlin is turning research into real-world impact ➡️ ihpi.umich.edu/news-events/...

michigandaily.comUMich studies find long-term benefits from Medicaid expansionStudies from the University of Michigan revealed significant long-term health and financial benefits of Michigan's 2014 Medicaid expansion.

In this @michigandaily.bsky.social article, @noraverlaine.bsky.social and I discuss recent findings from our IHPI team’s 10-year evaluation of Michigan’s #Medicaid expansion, showing its long-term health and financial benefits for enrollees: www.michigandaily.com/news/researc...

ihpi.umich.eduPolicy Brief: Less Medical Debt and Improvements in Credit Scores After Medicaid Expansion in MichiganKey Takeaways Medical debt is a widespread and growing burden in the U.S. and Michigan, affecting millions of individuals and families. Using credit report data, researchers found that enrollment in M...

For example, our credit report data analysis found that Healthy Michigan Plan enrollment was associated with an average of $983 less medical debt in collections per enrollee and a 23-point reduction among those with subprime credit scores seven years after enrollment: ihpi.umich.edu/news-events/...

ihpi.umich.eduPolicy Brief: Lessons from 10 Years of Medicaid Expansion in MichiganKey Takeaway The expansion of Medicaid in Michigan through the Healthy Michigan Plan has provided a reliable source of insurance coverage and access to care for many adults ages 19 to 64 with low inco...

For a broader look at the lessons from 10 years of #Medicaid expansion in Michigan, read our brief highlighting key findings from surveys and interviews with enrollees and healthcare providers and analyses of various datasets: ihpi.umich.edu/news-events/...

ihpi.umich.eduWaiting for a bed, but not for care: Emergency department boarding study finds wide variation in handoffsHow long ED boarders wait to be seen by an inpatient team, including in the ED before they move to a hospital unit, could make a key difference in their care and safety

NEW @jamanetworkopen.com: A study led by IHPI member Alex Janke finds wide variation among hospitals in how many hours emergency department boarding patients wait before they start receiving inpatient-quality care. Read about the findings & patient safety implications: ihpi.umich.edu/news-events/...

John Z. Ayanian, MD, MPP reposted

Vicki A. Freedman

@vafreedman.bsky.social

6 Aug

New paper led by @spattersearch.bsky.social on cohabitation and unmet care needs in later life. @nhats-nsoc.bsky.social

UM SRC@um-src.bsky.social

More older Americans are cohabitating. Using @nhats-nsoc.bsky.social researchers find cohabitation functions similarly to marriage when the partners need care, but cohabitors, especially women, receive fewer hours of care than spouses myumi.ch/bDEN9 @spattersearch.bsky.social @vafreedman.bsky.social

myumi.chCohabitation and unmet care needs in later lifeAbstractObjectives. More older Americans are cohabiting with a partner. However, it is unclear whether cohabitation serves as an alternative to marriage fo

John Z. Ayanian, MD, MPP reposted

Vicki A. Freedman

@vafreedman.bsky.social

6 Aug

ICYMI Our latest research with #NHATS finds growing care needs among escalating numbers of older adults ages 65-74. The nation is not prepared.

MiCDA-UMISR@micda-umisr.bsky.social

New work from MiCDA @umisr.bsky.social @umichsph.bsky.social affiliates @vafreedman.bsky.social, @spattersearch.bsky.social, Jennifer Cornman, and Jennifer Wolff in Health Affairs, “Trends In Care Needs Among Older US Adults Diverged By Age, 2011-22”: myumi.ch/7J3Ad

myumi.chTrends In Care Needs Among Older US Adults Diverged By Age, 2011–22 | Health Affairs JournalChanging late-life disability and care patterns that may accompany population aging have profound consequences for the nation’s health and related public policies. Drawing on two cross-sectional…

cscar.isr.umich.eduCSCAR: Consulting for Statistics, Computing, and Analytics Research, University of Michigan Dev |

3 Aug

Excellent news for all at U-M - the new model of CSCAR, with statistical consulting support for researchers, including up to three free consultations. It's led by IHPI member @bradytwest.bsky.social and funded by @umichresearch.bsky.social, the Rackham Graduate School and @umisr.bsky.social

Brady West@bradytwest.bsky.social

Good news from #JSM2026: CSCAR@ISR, a statistical and methodological consulting service designed to support faculty, staff, and graduate students, is now officially open for business at the University of Michigan. This is a rebirth of CSCAR, with new features! Visit cscar.isr.umich.edu for details.

ihpi.umich.eduMichigan’s Medicaid expansion improved both health and financesU-M report shows individuals, hospitals and primary care clinics all experienced positive impacts, but raises concerns about cost-sharing provisions that all states must soon enact

30 July

On this day in 1965, the law creating #Medicaid and Medicare was signed. Our researchers at the @umich.edu Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation have done many studies to evaluate both programs - including this recent report on Michigan’s Medicaid expansion: ihpi.umich.edu/news-events/...

ihpi.umich.eduAging & MedicareAs the older adult population in the U.S. continues to grow, so too does the challenge of meeting the healthcare needs of aging individuals. Our experts study ways to better understand and improve the...

30 July

For more about @umich.edu Medicare research, see this page of our site: ihpi.umich.edu/research-pol...

ihpi.umich.eduMedicaidFew public health programs are the subject of more debate than Medicaid, which insures low-income children, adults, seniors, and persons with disabilities. Our experts evaluate Medicaid eligibility, c...

30 July

To learn more about what IHPI members are finding through studies of Medicaid and Medicaid expansion, visit this page: ihpi.umich.edu/research-pol...

John Z. Ayanian, MD, MPP reposted

Brady West

@bradytwest.bsky.social

This should be a fantastic workshop, and it is free to all!

Vincent Arel-Bundock@vincentab.bsky.social

I'll be in Ann Arbor next week to talk about `marginaleffects` and how to interpret statistical models. Let me know if you're around! pdhp.isr.umich.edu/workshops/ #RStats #PyData

kffhealthnews.orgA Deloitte-Run System Denied Medicaid Benefits for Michigan’s Disabled. Now Trump’s Law Piles On. - KFF Health NewsComplex computer systems that decide whether people, including the disabled, get Medicaid benefits have a history of errors. Now changes to comply with Trump’s signature tax and domestic policy law ar...

Featuring comments from IHPI member @pamherd.bsky.social :

KFF Health News@kffhealthnews.org

Computer system problems foreshadow trouble as states prepare to roll out the most significant and complicated changes to their Medicaid programs in years. https://kffhealthnews.org/health-industry/deloitte-medicaid-eligibility-system-denials-michigan-trump-policy-piles-on/

John Z. Ayanian, MD, MPP reposted

jeremysussman.bsky.social

@jeremysussman.bsky.social

michmed.orgMore than half of U.S. adults now qualify for statins under new guidelinesUpdated recommendations for cholesterol-lowering therapy mean 21.5 million more people are eligible based on long-term risk for heart attack and stroke

Brief thread describing our paper on the new cholesterol guidelines. Take-home: The new guidelines increase the number of American's recommended statins by almost a third, with over half of all American adults now recommended statins. @timandersonmd.bsky.social

John Z. Ayanian, MD, MPP@ihpidirector.bsky.social

Studying how specialty society guideline updates will affect prescribing that mainly occurs in #primarycare settings is an important goal of health services research. Take, for example, these new findings by IHPI member Jeremy Sussman & colleagues at Pitt, published in @jama.com: michmed.org/zdRjw

wapo.stDoctors fear Medicaid changes will force them to decide who’s too sick to workPhysicians say new Medicaid rules starting Jan. 1 regarding employment will undermine their relationships with patients.

17 July

I’m quoted in a new @kffhealthnews.org story featured in the @washingtonpost.com, about the implications of Medicaid work requirement rules for physicians who treat people with chronic conditions: wapo.st/4fkJAOy Thanks, @samuelwhitehead.bsky.social, for the opportunity to discuss this topic.

ihpi.umich.eduA call for action ahead of Medicaid work requirementsU-M Medicaid research leader spells out what doctors, clinics, health systems, researchers and community organizers should do – and what they need

17 July

Last September, I laid out key steps for states, health care professionals, health care organizations and Medicaid researchers to take before these requirements are implemented in January 2027 – my @nejm.org Perspective and podcast are summarized and linked here: ihpi.umich.edu/news-events/...

17 July

Recently, colleagues and I at the @umich.edu Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation published findings from a long-term evaluation of Michigan's Medicaid expansion program, the Healthy Michigan Plan: ihpi.umich.edu/news-events/...

16 July

Four years ago today, the federally funded 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline launched, giving access to #mentalhealth and #substanceuse crisis support around the clock via call, text & chat. But our new poll shows that most people aged 50 and over still aren't aware of this service: michmed.org/mKVmN

13 July

Four years ago, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline launched, and Americans have used its phone, text and chat options 26 million times since. But our new National Poll on Healthy Aging, and Michigan Poll on Healthy Aging, suggest a lack of awareness among people over 50: michmed.org/mKVmN

10 July

The #healthpolicy fellowship from @rwjf.org & @nam.edu offers an unparalleled opportunity for academics to provide expertise to D.C. policymakers & gain experience to inform their research. Congratulations to Dr. Renuka Tipirneni on being named one of the new fellows! ihpi.umich.edu/news-events/...

ihpi.umich.eduExplainer: 7 things to know about Medicare’s new GLP-1-based medication coverageU-M obesity expert welcomes new option for access to effective weight-loss medication, and shares the new program’s limitations

6 July

In 2023, IHPI's National Poll on Healthy Aging found that 76% of older adults believed #Medicare should cover weight loss medications. Now, that coverage is becoming a reality for some through a new program. Learn more in this explainer featuring @loshman.bsky.social: ihpi.umich.edu/news-events/...

1 July

Thank you to the Humana Foundation for supporting IHPI’s National Poll on Healthy Aging in a new survey on #loneliness and well-being among diverse older adults in Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana and Texas. We’re grateful for this investment in aging and health research: news.humana.com/press-room/p...

26 June

A new policy brief highlights research by IHPI member @minalrpphd.bsky.social of @umichsph.bsky.social on the financial, social, and health-related burdens facing Michiganders with #diabetes and explores policy opportunities to improve access to affordable care. ➡️: ihpi.umich.edu/news-events/...

Susan B. Meister Child Health Evaluation & Research Center

18 June

Michigan's aging brains need more protection, our new poll data suggest. Findings from a survey of Michiganders over 50 show many don’t know that everyday actions are very important for preserving brain health and preventing #dementia. Learn more & explore the data: ihpi.umich.edu/news-events/...

John Z. Ayanian, MD, MPP reposted

@umchear.bsky.social

12 June

📄New from @pedibddoc.bsky.social @samirgadepalli.bsky.social Findings on antibiotic stewardship for CD related PFC from SETON (Standardization of Evaluation to Treatment of pediatric perianal CD & improving Outcomes through Networking). 🔗 sciencedirect.com/science/arti... @ihpidirector.bsky.social

John Z. Ayanian, MD, MPP reposted

9 June

Today, our team is proud to present findings from our 10-year evaluation of Michigan’s Medicaid expansion, called the Healthy Michigan Plan. We hope our work will inform all expansion states as federal policy changes take effect in coming months. Read more: ihpi.umich.edu/news-events/...

9 June