Our Research in the Media

Annual Health Policy PhD Award Created in Dr. Richard Scheffler’s Name

Posted on By alexandra-peltz

The University of California, Berkeley, has launched an annual award to recognize the best PhD paper in health policy and economics. The award is named the “Richard M. Scheffler Prize in Health Economics”, in honor of Petris Center Director Richard Scheffler’s distinguished year. Each year, the award will include a prize ($1K), a framed certificate, and a celebratory lunch with select faculty and students.

Chaoran Guo (2018) is the first recipient of the Scheffler Health Economics Award and will start her academic career this fall as an assistant professor in the Department of Economics, Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to the Scheffler Health Economics Award Fund, as this award will be a tribute to Dr. Scheffler for his many contributions to Berkeley and will enable the PhD program to highlight the research excellence in health economics and policy. If you are able to contribute to the dissertation award fund, please either mail a check to University of California, Berkeley Foundation and note “The Scheffler Health Economics Award Fund” or you can click here to be directed to the secure donation website.

 

Petris Center Research Cited in New Los Angeles Times Article on the Potential Impacts of AG Becerra’s Lawsuit Against Sutter

Posted on By alexandra-peltz

The Los Angeles Times published an article covering the potential impacts of California Attorney General Xavier Becerra’s complaint against Sutter Health for “anticompetitive business practices.” The article, entitled “California Hospital Giant Sutter Health Faces Heavy Backlash on Prices,” discusses the complexities of the legal response alongside the possibilities of state-level and national repercussions. The lawsuit relies on a newly released Petris Center report on consolidation in California’s health care markets, showing higher prices in Northern California for employers and patients.

You can read the full Los Angeles Times article here.

You can read the recently released Petris Center report “Consolidation in California’s Health Care Market 2010-2016: Impact on Prices and ACA Premiums” here.

Petris Center Report Featured by UC Berkeley School of Public Health

Posted on By alexandra-peltz

A recent study from the Petris Center was just featured on the UC Berkeley School of Public Health’s website. The study analyzed the relationship between market concentration and health care procedure prices, as well as Affordable Care Act premiums between 2010 and 2016. The analysis found stark differences between Northern California and Southern California premiums and prices, but even further, the report suggests that the “vast majority of counties in California warrant concern and scrutiny, according to the DOJ/FTC Guidelines. It continued, “Consumers are paying more for health care as a result of market consolidation. It is now time for regulators and legislators to take action.”

You can read the full story here.

The full analysis was published in March in a report called Consolidation in California’s Health Care Market 2010-2016: Impact on Prices and ACA Premiums. You can read it here.

Petris Center Director Dr. Richard Scheffler Receives Berkeley Citation Award

Posted on By alexandra-peltz

On May 1st, Petris Center Director Dr. Richard M. Scheffler was awarded the Berkeley Citation, among the highest honors the campus bestows on its community. The award is presented on behalf of the Chancellor to individuals whose contributions to UC Berkeley go beyond the call of duty and whose achievements exceed the standards of excellence in their fields. The award was presented to Dr. Scheffler by School of Public Health Dean Emeritus Stephen M. Shortell during the Health Policy and Management Division faculty meeting. Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Paul Alivisatos also presented the award to Dr. Scheffler on May 3rd at the School of Public Health All-School Faculty meeting.

Dr. Scheffler joined the Berkeley faculty in 1981. He is a Distinguished Professor of Health Economics and Public Policy in the School of Public Health and Goldman School of Public Policy, and holds the Chair in Healthcare Markets and Consumer Welfare, endowed by the California Attorney General. The citation recognized his 36 years of service to the Berkeley campus that have gone far beyond the call of duty.

Professor Scheffler’s contributions include founding the Health Policy PhD program in 1988 and serving as the program’s director for a decade, founding the joint Masters of Public Health-Masters of Public Policy Program in 1986, and serving as President of the Berkeley Faculty Association. He was also recognized for his service as the founding director of the UC Berkeley/UCSF Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Scholars program from 1993-2005. The interdisciplinary, campus-wide program had 81 graduates over its lifespan, with a number of those graduates now on the Berkeley faculty. “If there is one word that sums up Richard’s contributions, it is ‘builder’. Many faculty and students alike have benefited from his leadership,” said Dean Emeritus Shortell.

Professor Scheffler will be retiring from teaching in June, but plans to remain an active member of the UC Berkeley community. He will devote his time to his research at the Nicholas C. Petris Center on Health Care Markets and Consumer Welfare, and was just elected to serve as a member of the Berkeley Academic Senate’s Divisional Council for the 2018-2019 academic year. As his colleague Professor Emeritus Teh-Wei Hu wrote, “With your energy, professional interest, and wisdom, I am sure you are not going to retire. In fact, I predict that you will actually be much busier. Just enjoy doing what you would love to do.”

Petris Center Director Dr. Scheffler Quoted in Los Angeles Times Article Discussing AB 3087

Posted on By alexandra-peltz

The Los Angeles Times published an article covering the introduction of AB 3087, a California bill aimed at establishing an independent commission to set healthcare prices. The article, entitled “An Ambitious California Bill Would Put the State in Charge of Controlling Prices in the Commercial Healthcare Market,” discusses how prices would be based off Medicare rates and then be determined by this new independent commission. The bill was introduced by Democratic Assemblyman Ash Kalra (San Jose) introduced the bill on April 9th. Dr. Scheffler is quoted as saying that “a commission looking at costs, looking at what drives it, looking at who the actors are — you can call out people [responsible for high prices]… could be very, very powerful.”

You can read the full Los Angeles Times article here.

 

Dr. Scheffler Featured on KCRW Discussing Pros and Cons of AB 3087

Posted on By alexandra-peltz

Petris Center Director Dr. Scheffler recently joined Dr. Mazer from the California Medical Association to discuss AB 3087 on KCRW radio. The station describes that the new California bill would “allow the state to set prices for healthcare, including doctor’s appointments, surgery and hospital stays.” Prices would be based off Medicare rates and then be determined by this new independent commission. Democratic Assemblyman Ash Kalra (San Jose) introduced the bill on April 9th.

The pros and cons are discussed fully here.

Scheffler Op-Ed in SF Chronicle: Single-payer plan is within reach of California

Posted on By alexandra-peltz

Petris Center Director Dr. Richard Scheffler has a new op-ed entitled “Single-payer plan is within reach of California” published today in the San Francisco Chronicle. The op-ed describes how just-released Petris analysis identifies three changes in the California health care system that can generate enough reductions in health spending to finance a feasible path to universal health coverage in the state within the next few years.

You can read the full op-ed in the San Francisco Chronicle here.

The op-ed is based upon the Petris Center report, “Proposal to Use Three Initiatives to Lower Healthcare Spending and Finance Universal Health Insurance Coverage in California,” which can be accessed here. The report was accompanied by a blog on the Health Affairs website, which you can read here.

Petris Center Report Widely Featured in Media Coverage of CA Attorney General Sutter Health Lawsuit

Posted on By alexandra-peltz

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra’s has moved to sue Sutter Health, alleging anticompetitive business practices leading to higher prices for employers and patients. Media coverage highlights that the lawsuit relies on a newly released Petris Center report on consolidation in California’s health care markets. Coverage discusses Becerra’s response to the report’s key finding that people living in areas where there is greater consolidation among hospitals, physician groups and insurance companies pay more for health care. The report has been featured in media such as the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, SF Chronicle, Sacramento Bee, The Hill, Mercury News, Kaiser Health News, and the San Francisco Business Times.

You can read the newly released Petris Center report “Consolidation in California’s Health Care Market 2010-2016: Impact on Prices and ACA Premiums” here. You can also listen to the audio of the press conference with California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, announcing the release of the report, here.

Los Angeles Times Discusses CA Attorney General Lawsuit Against Sutter Health Based on New Petris Center Report

Posted on By alexandra-peltz

The Los Angeles Times published an article covering California Attorney General Xavier Becerra’s moves to sue Sutter Health alleging “anticompetitive business practices” leading to higher prices for employers and patients. The lawsuit relies on a newly released Petris Center report on consolidation in California’s health care markets. The article, entitled “California Sues Sutter Health, Alleging the Hospital System Unfairly Inflated Costs for Patients,” discusses Becerra’s response to the report’s key finding that people living in areas where there is greater consolidation among hospitals, physician groups and insurance companies pay more for health care.

You can read the full Los Angeles Times article here.

You can read the newly released Petris Center report “Consolidation in California’s Health Care Market 2010-2016: Impact on Prices and ACA Premiums” here. You can also listen to the audio of the press conference with California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, announcing the release of the report, here.

Washington Post Covers Petris Center Report at Center of CA Attorney General Sutter Health Lawsuit

Posted on By alexandra-peltz

The Washington Post published an article covering California Attorney General Xavier Becerra’s moves to sue Sutter Health alleging “anticompetitive conduct” leading to higher prices for employers and patients. The lawsuit relies on a newly released Petris Center report on consolidation in California’s health care markets. The article, entitled “California Sues Sutter Health Alleging Excessive Pricing,” discusses Becerra’s response to the report’s key finding that people living in areas where there is greater consolidation among hospitals, physician groups and insurance companies pay more for health care. The article mentions the report’s recommendation that there is a need for “regulators and legislators to take action” based on new findings.

You can read the full Washington Post article here.

You can read the newly released Petris Center report “Consolidation in California’s Health Care Market 2010-2016: Impact on Prices and ACA Premiums” here. You can also listen to the audio of the press conference with California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, announcing the release of the report, here.