Brandy Lipton, PhD

I am an applied microeconomist with expertise in health economics and public policy. I am currently a Visiting Associate Professor in the Department of Health, Society, and Behavior at the University of California, Irvine and an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the School of Public Health at San Diego State University. My research explores the connections between health care policies and both health and economic outcomes, such as employment and academic achievement. States have substantial leverage in determining Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) policies, providing opportunities to examine how these choices influence population outcomes. I have developed a focused research program that examines the impacts of Medicaid policies and their effectiveness in reducing healthcare disparities. Some examples of content focus areas include child health and health disparities, Medicaid optional benefits including dental and vision coverage, and public health insurance expansions under the Affordable Care Act. My publication record spans multiple disciplines including health policy, economics, and medicine. My work has been published in outlets including Journal of Health Economics, Journal of Human Resources, Health Affairs, and JAMA Health Forum. My research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (NEI and NIDCR) and William T. Grant Foundation.