Overview
My research centers on aligning incentives with evidence-based, integrated care for people with mental health and/or substance use conditions. One type of incentives I study are provider payment models that adequately cover the costs of care but also provide incentives for doing what works the best for patients and their families. Our work makes innovative use of data resulting from clinical tracking and registries, but also conducts and is informed by extensive engagement of stakeholders such as providers, patients, and payers. An example is our recent work that developed a decision-support tool for bundled payment design for early psychosis interventions.
I co-lead an ongoing project funded by NIH’s HEAL initiative with colleagues at NYU and New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS). This project aims to assist Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs) in New York State with flexible methadone take-home medication following the regulatory and practice changes that started in the COVID-19 pandemic. I lead a component of the intervention to address uncertainty regarding revenue and assist OTPs to take advantage of bundled payment for methadone provided by New York State Medicaid.
Another major focus of my research is evaluations of policies addressing unsafe opioid analgesics. We are a leading research team to assess Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs) and policies. We are also leading researchers in assessing unintended effects of these policies, with particular attention to patients receiving long-term opioid therapies, patients with cancer-related pain, and patients with sickle cell disease. We also study related policies such as marijuana legalization and implications for opioid use and pain management outcomes among patients with cancer-related pain.
In two ongoing projects funded by the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society, we are conducting systematic investigation of intended and unintended outcomes of PDMP policies, state legislative limits for prescription opioids, and other related policies among cancer survivor populations with varying cost-benefit tradeoffs associated with opioid analgesics.
I developed and teach a course in the Population Health Sciences Master’s program titled “Incentives in the U.S. Healthcare System”, with the aim to cultivate the “lens of incentives” students can apply to understanding and examining current issues and stakeholders in health care.
I am devoted to mentoring and enjoy working with colleagues in many different disciplines and at all stages of their research careers. I am an investigator of the NIDA-funded Center for Health Economics of Treatment Interventions for Substance Use Disorder, HCV, and HIV (CHERISH) and take a leading role in developing and coordinating the Center’s mentoring program.
Highlights
- 1Health economics · 2022
- 2Pain · 2025
- 3JAMA network open · 2023
Publications
Funding
Active
14 grants- Co-IR01DA062431-01A1The impact of peer support in treatment engagement and adverse events for Medicaid beneficiaries with substance use disorder: a mixed-methods studyNational Institute on Drug Abuse · 2025–2030
- Co-IP30DA040500-11A1Health Economics of Substance Use Disorder, HCV, and HIV Treatment: Supporting Financial Sustainability, Advanced Methods, and Knowledge TranslationNational Institute on Drug Abuse · 2020–2030· 2 renewals
- Sub-PIRM1DA059377-03Person-centered quality measurement and management in a system for addictions treatment in New York StateNational Institute on Drug Abuse · 2023–2028 · via New York University
- Co-IR01DA046527-06A1Researching Effective Strategies To Prevent Opioid Death (RESPOND)National Institute on Drug Abuse · 2023–2028 · via Boston Medical Center (Corporation)
- PIR61DA065211-01State Implementation Strategies for Take-homE Methadone (SISTEM)NIDA · 2026–2027 · via NIH RePORTER
- Sub-PIR33DA057683-05Data-Driven Approaches to Reform of Opioid Treatment ProgramsNational Institute on Drug Abuse · 2022–2027 · via New York University School of Medicine (Grossman)
- Co-IU24DA057650-01HEAL Data2Action Modeling and Economic Resource CenterNational Institute on Drug Abuse · 2022–2027
- PIR01CA267996-04Opioid Treatment of Pain in People with Cancer: Intended and unintended consequences of state policies addressing opioid prescribingNational Cancer Institute · 2022–2027
- Co-IR01DA057940-01A1Delivery of Addiction Treatment for Medicaid Enrollees with Serious Injection-Related InfectionsNational Institute on Drug Abuse · 2023–2027
- Sub-PIR01MH130354-05Early Stage Identification and Engagement to Reduce Duration of Untreated Psychosis (EaSIE): Evaluating the Impact of Screening and Systematic CommunicationNational Institute of Mental Health · 2022–2027 · via Mount Sinai School of Medicine
- PIRSGI-22-130-01-HOPSState opioid limits, formulary design, and intended and unintended consequences for people with cancerAmerican Cancer Society · 2023–2026
- Sub-PIRM1DA055437-04Integrated Care for Chronic Pain and Opioid Use Disorder: The IMPOWR Montefiore/Einstein (IMPOWR-ME) Research CenterNational Institute on Drug Abuse · 2021–2026 · via Yeshiva University
- Co-IR01DK123205-01A1Disparities in the Diffusion of Direct-Acting Antiviral Therapy for Hepatitis C among Baby Boomers: A Mixed-Methods StudyNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2020–2026
- Sub-PIUF1MH121944-02The Whole Health Study: Collaborative Care for OUD and Mental Health ConditionsNational Institute of Mental Health · 2019–2026 · via University of Pennsylvania
Completed grants (22)
- Co-IR01MH121907-01Linking VA and non-VA data to study the risk of suicide in chronic pain patients.National Institute of Mental Health · 2020–2025
- Co-IR01AG060086-01Identifying Patterns of Health Care Utilization among Physical Elder Abuse Victims Using Medicare Data and Legally Adjudicated CasesNational Institute on Aging · 2018–2025
- Co-I75P00119F37010Adult Protective Services Technical Assistance Resource Center (TARC) SUBCONTRACT No: 2023WRMA-APST300Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) · 2023–2024 · via WRMA, Inc.
- Co-IP50MH113838-01ALACRITY for Late- and Mid-Life Mood DisordersNational Institute of Mental Health · 2017–2024
- Co-IGF 192350-02Mortality, morbidity, and healthcare utilization of newborns with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome from birth through 2 years of ageGerber Foundation · 2019–2023
- PIR61DA057683-01Leveraging regulatory flexibility for methadone take-home dosing to improve retention in treatment for opioid use disorder: A stepped-wedge randomized trial to facilitate clinic level changesNIDA · 2022–2023 · via NIH RePORTER
- PI21IPA2111285Impacts of Economic Policies on Adverse Childhood Experiences, Opioids, and Suicide (IPA Agreement 21IPA2111285)Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · 2022–2023
- Co-IPF 170352-01Weill Cornell Center for the Study of Physician Practice and LeadershipPhysicians Foundation, Inc. · 2018–2022
- Sub-PIU01FD007064-01Expanding FDA's Opioids Systems Model to Enable Economic Evaluations and Outcome Analyses of National Opioid PoliciesUnited States Food & Drug Administration · 2020–2022 · via The General Hospital Corporation (dba Massachusetts General Hospital)
- Co-IR35CA197730-02S1Psychosocial Approaches to Better Understanding & End-Stage Cancer Care (PROTECT) Diversity SupplementNational Cancer Institute · 2015–2022· 2 renewals
- PI21IPA2111285Impacts of Economic Policies on Adverse Childhood Experiences, Opioids, and Suicide (IPA Agreement 21IPA2111285)Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · 2021–2022
- PILJAF 193309-02State Policies to Enhance the Use of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs: Intended and Unintended ConsequencesLaura & John Arnold Foundation · 2019–2022
- 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
- PIRWJF 76436Develop a payment decision-support tool for payers and providers of early interventions for psychosisRobert Wood Johnson Foundation · 2019–2021
- MPIT32MH073553-15Training Geriatric Mental Health Services ResearchersNational Institute of Mental Health · 2017–2020 · via Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical CenterTraining· 2 renewals
- Co-I17-05047Addressing Origins of the Opioid Epidemic by Improving Prescribing for Opioid-Naive PatientsNew York State Health Foundation · 2017–2019
- PICA 194195-01Consulting Agreement Extension - Martha BruceNational Institutes of Health · 2019–2019Contract
- PIR01MH104200-03 NCEValue-Based Purchasing in Implementation of Depression Care in Community ClinicsNational Institute of Mental Health · 2014–2019
- PIRWJF 74947-1Develop Novel Payment Models for Early Interventions for PsychosisRobert Wood Johnson Foundation · 2017–2018
- KPR01MH096441-04Homecare Agency-Randomized Trial of Web Implementation Strategy for DepressionNational Institute of Mental Health · 2012–2016
- PIK01MH090087-05Designing Payment and Performance Evaluation for Depression Care ManagementNIMH · 2010–2015 · via NIH RePORTER
- PIR03MH085834-02Cost of an Evidence Based Depression Care Management Intervention in Home HealthNIMH · 2009–2011 · via NIH RePORTER
Clinical research
Active
2 studies- PIOpioid and other controlled substance policies and outcomes for patients with cancerWeill Medical College of Cornell University · OPEN TO ACCRUAL (as of 2023)
- PINCT05675735Leveraging Regulatory Flexibility for Methadone Take-Home Dosing to Improve Retention in Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder: A Stepped-Wedge Randomized Trial to Facilitate Clinic Level ChangesNA · NYU Langone · OPEN TO ACCRUAL (as of 2023)Problems Related to Social Environment
Completed & closed trials (1)
- PIPrior Authorization and Opioid Use Disorder TreatmentWeill Medical College of Cornell University · IRB STUDY CLOSURE (as of 2026)
News mentions
- Prior Authorization Bans for Buprenorphine Alone May Not Improve Treatment RetentionMarch 6, 2026
State laws that ban insurance prior authorization for buprenorphine—a leading medication for opioid use disorder—may not help more patients stay in treatment for the recommended minimum of 180 days, Weill Cornell Medicine researchers report.
- Communities of Color Face Greater Barriers in Accessing Opioid Medications for Pain ManagementJanuary 23, 2025
Non-white communities had significantly less access to opioid medications commonly prescribed for moderate to severe pain than white communities over the decade beginning in 2011, according to a study by Weill Cornell Medicine researchers.
- Weill Cornell Medicine Awarded NIH Grant to Address Opioid Health CrisisNovember 7, 2022
Weill Cornell Medicine has been awarded a five-year, $8.1 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support economic analysis, simulation modeling and other research approaches to help stem the national opioid epidemic.
- Comprehensive Mandates for Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs Reduce Opioid Prescriptions and Hospital UseSeptember 3, 2019
States that require prescribers to register with and use prescription drug monitoring programs in most clinical circumstances saw notably fewer opioid prescriptions and reduced opioid-related hospital use by Medicaid patients compared to states with weak or no drug monitoring program mandates.
Mentoring
- AJAllison Ju-Chen HuPostdoc mentee · 2023–2025