CHRT is a nonprofit health policy center at the University of Michigan.
CHRT works to transform data and research into useful information that can be used to craft policies and practices that improve the health of people and communities.
CHRT’s key focus areas include:
- healthy aging,
- public health,
- health equity,
- mental health and substance use recovery, and
- affordable, accessible care.
Our work includes:
- Publicly available issue briefs on timely health policy matters
- Survey research exploring key issues for consumers, physicians, and hospitals
- Training for health services researchers to enhance their impact on practice and policy
- Clinically-informed analyses to support data-driven policy decisions
- Demonstration projects with community partners to advance health and equity
- Mixed methods program evaluation
History
Since 2007, CHRT has informed policy decisions that have impacted the health care landscape in Michigan and beyond. Every day, CHRT works to educate and inform policymakers by expanding the body of health services research and analysis, running demonstration projects to show how health and health care can be improved, and helping researchers become more effective at creating and disseminating research findings.
Highlights of our work:
- For over a decade, CHRT has methodically tracked changes in how physicians practice medicine and provide access to care.
- CHRT’s timely research was pivotal in Michigan’s decision to expand Medicaid. Our fiscal analyses projected over $1 billion in net savings to the state over 10 years and survey data showed ready access to Michigan primary care providers.
- CHRT runs a health policy fellowship program to train senior clinicians, health policy researchers, and legislative and executive branch staff. Former fellows now serve in key policy positions in Michigan influencing state and federal health policy.
- CHRT provides backbone support to the Washtenaw Health Initiative, a collaborative of more than 200 individuals and organizations focused on delivering better care to low-income, Medicaid, and uninsured populations in Washtenaw County.
- CHRT was instrumental in developing and coordinating Michigan’s successful Multi-Payer Advanced Primary Care Practice grant–an initiative focused on improving primary care for people with chronic disease.