Overview
Dr. Mark Unruh is an Associate Professor with research interests primarily concentrated in two areas: (1) complex ownership structures of nursing homes, including private equity and real estate investment trust ownership, and the quality and cost of care provided by these facilities; (2) the relationship between the level of physician reimbursements and the quality and cost of care. He also conducts studies examining the adoption and use of health information technology by nursing homes. His work in these areas has been supported by multiple awards from the National Institute on Aging, in addition to funding from Arnold Ventures and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Dr. Unruh’s research has received coverage from numerous media outlets, including The New York Times and The Washington Post, and has been used to support initiatives proposed by the Senate Finance Committee and The White House.
Dr. Unruh also serves as the Director of Data and Methods for the Center for the Study of Physician Practice and Leadership at Weill Cornell and as the Director of the Master of Science program in Health Policy and Economics within the Department of Population Health Sciences. In addition to his institutional appointments, he is a standing member of AHRQ’s Healthcare Systems and Value Research study section and recently joined the Moving Forward Nursing Home Quality Coalition’s Committee on Transparency and Accountability of Finances and Ownership.
Highlights
- 1JAMA health forum · 2021
- 2Health affairs (Project Hope) · 2023
- 3JAMA network open · 2020
Publications
Funding
Active
8 grants- Co-IR01AG092393-01A1Understanding the Role of Nursing Home Enforcement and Oversight in Post-Acute and Long-Stay Resident Quality of CareNational Institute on Aging · 2026–2031
- Co-IRF1AG092808-01A1Long-term health effects of disasters on post acute care of patients with Alzheimers Dementia and other vulnerable groupsNational Institute on Aging · 2026–2030
- MPIR01DK144679-01Hospital-to-SNF Transitions of Care in Patients with End-Stage Kidney DiseaseNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2025–2030
- MPIRF1AG095083-01Measuring social needs among older adults: psychometrics and policyNational Institute on Aging · 2025–2029 · via Indiana University
- Co-IR01AG089702-01Telehealth Use and the Quality of End-of-Life Care for Nursing Home Residents with Alzheimer's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease-Related DementiasNational Institute on Aging · 2024–2028
- Co-IR01AG089362-01Telehealth Use in Nursing Homes and the Quality of Care for Long-Stay Residents with Alzheimer's Disease and Related DementiasNational Institute on Aging · 2024–2027No publications yet
- MPIRF1AG082059-01A1REIT Investments in Nursing Homes and the Quality of End of Life Care for Residents with Alzheimer's Disease and Related DementiasNational Institute on Aging · 2024–2027
- PIR01AG072605-03Skilled Nursing Facility Participation in Health Information Exchange and Quality of Care for Patients with Alzheimer's Disease and Related DementiasNational Institute on Aging · 2022–2026
Completed grants (16)
- Co-IR01AG072546-01Higher Primary Care Reimbursements and the Quality of Care for Dually-Eligible Patients with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias in Skilled Nursing FacilitiesNational Institute on Aging · 2021–2025
- PIR01AG063935-03Higher Reimbursements for Primary Care Services and the Quality of Care for Dually-Eligible Nursing Home Residents with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias.National Institute on Aging · 2020–2024
- Co-I75P00122C00034Trends in Nursing Home Ownership and Quality of CareUnited States Department of Health & Human Services · 2022–2023 · via Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Co-IPF 170352-01Weill Cornell Center for the Study of Physician Practice and LeadershipPhysicians Foundation, Inc. · 2018–2022
- Co-ILJAF 21-05529Real Estate Investment Trust Acquisition of Nursing Homes and the Cost and Quality of Nursing Home CareLaura & John Arnold Foundation · 2021–2022
- KPR35CA197730-04Psychosocial Approaches to Better Understanding & End-Stage Cancer Care (PROTECT)National Cancer Institute · 2015–2022
- Co-IR01HS025716-03Primary Care Physician-Staff Dyads (“Teamlets”): A Simple, Efficient Means to Improve Healthcare Quality and Decrease Cost?Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality · 2018–2022
- PIR56AG072605-01Skilled Nursing Facility Participation in Health Information Exchange and Quality of Care for Patients with Alzheimer's Disease and Related DementiasNational Institute on Aging · 2021–2022
- Co-I19-02836Private Equity Firms, Physician Management Companies and the Prices, Cost and Quality of Medical CareLaura & John Arnold Foundation · 2019–2021
- PISA 193125-01Health Information Exchange Supported Transfer Forms for Long Term Care (LTC) Patient's Emergency Department (ED) VisitsNew York eHealth Collaborative · 2018–2020Contract
- MPIR21HS024717-02The Impact of Enterprise Health Information Exchange on Organizational Performance and Local Health Care MarketsAgency for Healthcare Research and Quality · 2017–2019 · via Indiana University
- PISRA 180117-01Environmental Scan of LTPAC Interoperable Health Information Technology Capabilities (HIMSS contract)Indiana University · 2018–2019Contract
- KP2650886How Do Physicians Spend Their TimePhysicians Foundation, Inc. · 2016–2018
- KP73805The Medicaid Fee Bump: Increased Reimbursements to Primary Care Providers and Health Care Utilization Among Dual-Eligibles With Chronic ConditionsRobert Wood Johnson Foundation · 2016–2018
- MPIR01HS024556-02Use of Push and Pull Health Information Exchange Technologies by Ambulatory Care Practices and the Impact on Potentially Avoidable Health Care UtilizationAgency for Healthcare Research and Quality · 2016–2018 · via Indiana University
- PIR03AG046671-02EWOHospitals' Adoption of EHRs and Re-Hospitalization of Medicare BeneficiariesNational Institute on Aging · 2013–2016
Clinical research
Completed & closed trials (2)
- PIDoes Private Equity Investment in Home Health Agencies and Hospices Affect the Cost and Quality of Care?Weill Medical College of Cornell University · CLOSED TO ACCRUAL (as of 2024)
- PIEffectiveness of health information exchange alerts on hospital utilizationWeill Medical College of Cornell University · IRB STUDY CLOSURE (as of 2021)
News mentions
- Fixing America’s Nursing Home Crisis Requires New Ideas and StrategiesJuly 4, 2026
An aging Baby Boomer generation and contracting nursing home supply will put unprecedented pressure on long-term nursing home services in the United States.
- Private Equity Ownership of Nursing Homes Linked to Lower Quality of Care, Higher Medicare CostsNovember 19, 2021
Nursing homes acquired by private equity companies saw an increase in emergency room visits and hospitalizations among long-stay residents and an uptick in Medicare costs, according to a new study from Weill Cornell Medicine investigators.
Media highlights
- America Is Running Out Of Nursing Home Beds — And It’ll Affect All Of UsThe Street · September 28, 2026
External relationships
Advisory/Scientific Board Member
JAMDA - The Journal for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine
Professional Services
Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality · American College of Physicians, Inc.