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CHRT Blog

Primary Contact: Main Office Line: (734) 998-7555 or CHRT-info@umich.edu

Instructor speaking to a class of students

Announcing the 2024 Health Policy Fellowship cohort  

We are pleased to announce our 2024 Health Policy Fellowship cohort.  More than 125 health researchers, policymakers, and nonprofit leaders have completed the fellowship since its launch in 2012. Many fellowship alumni occupy influential roles as policymakers and leaders across Michigan.  The 2024 fellowship cohort will include: Chelsea Alcock, Legislative Assistant, 52nd District, Michigan House of Representatives Dr. Frank Conyers, …

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Nancy Baum, systemic and policy analysis team lead

Providing decision makers with evidence: A Q&A with CHRT’s health policy team lead

CHRT’s health policy team evaluates laws, regulations and policies, as well as decisions and actions of leaders in public health, healthcare payers and providers, for their impact on population health. The team analyzes and recommends evidence-based policies designed to improve the health of people and communities, and responds to the needs and interests of a broad range of stakeholders.  We …

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A Q&A with CHRT’s new Executive Director, Joshua Traylor

Joshua Traylor joined CHRT as executive director on November 1. We sat down with him to learn more about him, his background, and his plans for CHRT. What interested you in joining CHRT as ED? I was born and raised in Washtenaw County so when the CHRT opportunity was posted, a few people from Michigan brought it to my attention. …

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The important role of human-centered design in healthcare 

By: Kimberly Snodgrass, Cleoniki Kesidis In 2023, with Medicaid renewals at the forefront of state health and human service department operations, we’re thinking a lot about how to create easy-to-use systems that allow people to demonstrate their eligibility for Medicaid. Without easy-to-use systems, many are losing Medicaid insurance for administrative or procedural reasons–even if they remain eligible. Data shows that …

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Accepting applicants for the second annual Rebecca Copeland Memorial Internship

CHRT is now accepting applicants for the second annual Rebecca Copeland Memorial Internship. CHRT seeks a high-achieving individual who is thoughtful and analytical, with interests and experiences in health policy analysis. This is a full-time paid summer internship, with flexible start and end dates. Graduate students who have completed at least one year of coursework in public policy or public …

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15 years in review with Executive Director Terrisca Des Jardins

Friends,  Fifteen years ago, no one could have anticipated where the Center for Health and Research Transformation (CHRT) would be today. We’ve gone through many iterations, making our 15th anniversary truly significant.  We were only guaranteed three years of funding when we opened the doors of our center. We started as a grant-making nonprofit to support health services research. For …

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Melissa Riba

Insurance companies are no longer waiving cost-sharing for COVID hospitalizations. Seems fair to me.

By Melissa Riba, director of research and evaluation, Center for Health and Research Transformation (CHRT) In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, insurers stopped charging their members for COVID-related hospitalizations.  Partly, that was just common sense. Charging copays and deductibles in the middle of a global pandemic–when people were sick and worried and losing their jobs–would have discouraged people …

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Welcome new staff and interns

CHRT is pleased to introduce its newest hires in finance, data use, and programming. New finance team members will enhance our organization’s ability to conduct financial planning, ensure compliance, and improve operational procedures. New programmatic staff members bring expertise in health information technology, data use, public policy, mental health and substance use disorders, and more.  Gudrun Bossman Gudrun Bossmann is …

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New CHRT projects focus on integration, learning networks, and social determinants of health

CHRT has launched six new projects over the past few months, including designing a public health and primary care integration demonstration project, participating in a learning action network team to support integrated delivery networks, launching a new practicum and fellowship for Detroit Health Department staff members, and providing training in communicating for policy change to a national network of cancer …

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Special open enrollment period allows Michigan consumers to purchase 2021 health insurance on national ACA marketplace

On January 28th, President Biden signed an executive order to initiate a nationwide special enrollment period and reopen the ACA Health Insurance Marketplace. The Marketplace will reopen from February 15 – May 15, which will give consumers in Michigan (and in 35 other states that use the federal exchange) an additional opportunity to purchase 2021 health insurance coverage amidst the …

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