Behind The Surveys: Best Wishes To Two of Our Unsung Heroes
Although the VCU Office of Medicaid Evaluation was recently launched, its foundation has been years in the making. Well before the office officially opened, extensive background work helped shape our ability to deliver evidence-based analyses of state and federal Medicaid programs. This work would not have been possible without the dedication of students, staff, and […]
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 […]
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 the article, […]
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 dually […]
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 […]
Capturing MODRN EQUIP (Medicaid Outcomes Distributed Research Network: Equity and Quality Improvement for Medicaid Programs)
Department of Health Policy’s Dr. Andrew Barnes joins AcademyHealth and University of Pittsburgh to support evidence-based policymaking with a focus on transforming Medicaid-financed healthcare.
A Snapshot of Project DREAM (Doula Research for Equitable Advances in Medicaid Pregnancy Health)
Department of Health Policy faculty Dr. Andrew Barnes, Dr. Peter Cunningham, and Dr. Anika Hines join AcademyHealth and University of Pittsburgh to leverage an innovative distributed research network to advance racial equity in severe maternal morbidity and improve pregnancy and postpartum health outcomes in Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities.
Healthcare Policy PhD candidate and School of Dentistry Associate Professor examines the impact of Medicaid dental policies
Shillpa Naavaal, an associate professor in the VCU School of Dentistry, hopes to promote strong oral health policies with the help of a five-year grant from the NIH. by Joan Tupponce Shillpa Naavaal’s concern for Virginians who need the most dental care but receive the least has been at the root of her research for […]
Study: Virginia Medicaid expansion increased financial security for enrollees
By Meghan McIntyre, Virginia Mercury Chesterfield resident Geneva Gordon was forced to file for bankruptcy after receiving a $21,000 hospital bill for a reconstructive wrist surgery while uninsured. Leaving her previous job left her without insurance, living paycheck to paycheck and constantly worrying about getting sick and adding to her growing medical debt. Gordon has […]
