Andrew Barnes, Ph.D., recognized for Advancing Societal Well-being
Andrew Barnes, Ph.D., professor of health policy, is the inaugural recipient of the VCU ARIA – Excellence in Research for Advancing Societal Well-being. VCU Annual Research Impact Awards (VCU-ARIA) recognize outstanding academic and scientific research achievements by faculty and postdoctoral fellows, celebrating discoveries, innovative research, and contributions to specific fields. These institutional awards are determined through […]
Primary care shortage affects 44% of Virginia’s neighborhoods and almost 3.8 million residents, new VCU study finds
Rural communities are particularly hard-hit, and the research could point to workforce initiatives. Nearly half of Virginia’s neighborhoods don’t have enough nearby primary care physicians for their residents, with rural communities being hit hardest by workforce shortages, according to a new study led by researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University. Using anonymized health care claims data, […]
Where doctors aren’t: New study shows why primary care shortages persist
By Austin Littrell, Medical Economics Nearly half of Virginia’s neighborhoods lack adequate access to primary care. That’s the conclusion of a new study published in the Annals of Family Medicine, which used all-payer claims data to map how and where patients in the state can reach a doctor within 30 minutes. Researchers found that 44% of […]
Examining The Effects of Expanding The Medicaid Adult Dental Benefit
The Department of Health Policy recently prepared an evaluation report for the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) that examined the effects of the expanded Medicaid Adult Dental Benefit on Emergency Department utilization in Virginia hospitals for non-traumatic dental visits. Presented to DMAS in March 2025, the report was authored by Department of Health […]
Considering the neighborhood context: The relationship between food and housing insecurity and healthcare use among Virginia Medicaid expansion members
For a new article published by Health Services Research, several VCU Department of Health Policy faculty members, students, and alums collaborated with other faculty from the VCU School Of Public Health and several officials from the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) to examine the relationships between healthcare use and food and housing insecurity […]
The Department of Health Policy Is Seeking Candidates for Open Rank Faculty Position
The Department of Health Policy in the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Public Health invites applications from health services researchers for a full-time 12-month, tenure-eligible, open rank faculty member. The Department of Health Policy is a driving force that promotes health equity through multidisciplinary research, education, training, and service. We identify and address behavioral, social, […]
How Virginia Reformed Medicaid To Accelerate Access To Addiction Treatment
For a new article in Health Affairs, former Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) Chief Medical Officer Chethan Bachireddy and DMAS Senior Program Advisor Ashley Harrell collaborated with Department of Health Policy professor Andrew Barnes on an extensive article detailing the reforms made to Virginia Medicaid’s addiction treatment processes between 2017 and 2022. In […]
Study Indicates Positive Outcomes for New Approach to Medicare/Medicaid Dual Enrollment
By Annie Powell, W&M Arts & Sciences News Navigating the complexity of either Medicare or Medicaid is challenging. Those challenges are compounded for people enrolled in both programs. A team of researchers from William & Mary, Virginia Commonwealth University and the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services studied the potential benefits of integrating care for […]
Substance use disorders are underdiagnosed and undertreated among formerly incarcerated Virginians, new VCU-led study finds
Research collaboration with the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services highlights health disparities affecting Medicaid members with addiction – and some of the barriers they face. By Olivia Trani People recently released from prison experience some of the highest rates of substance use disorder, but they are also the least likely to have access to providers […]
Black church leaders to support mental health services with $1.25 million grant in Richmond
VCU Department of Health Policy Assistant Professor Dr. Anika Hines is a member at Cedar Street and took the lead in writing the grant application. Read the full story here.
