Health Care and Life Sciences
The Gardner Institute employs a senior health care analyst and a team of economists knowledgeable about Utah’s health care policies and economy. We also benefit from a Health Care Advisory Council that guides our research agenda and supports the development of a health care policy practice area. Our research focus areas include, but are not limited to: (1) analyzing state and national health care trends; (2) collaborating with health care experts and community leaders to analyze relevant health care policy; and (3) conducting research and preparing data on Utah’s health care sector.
Utah Caregiving Perspectives: A Survey Exploring Utah Caregivers’ Employment, Challenges, and Support Needs
Many caregivers share experiences and needs, but differences arise based on factors like age, gender, employment status, caregiving hours, and living situation.
Utah’s Health Care Coverage Landscape
Utah’s health care coverage landscape includes high rates of private health insurance enrollment, low rates of public health insurance program enrollment, and declining uninsured rates. That said, uninsured rates remain high for some populations and health care affordability and access are concerns for many Utahns
The Role of Nonprofit Hospitals in Utah’s Health Care System
The majority of Utah hospitals are nonprofit organizations that provide charity care and medical discounts; community education, services, and research; donations of time and money; and essential health services throughout the state.
Utah Behavioral Health Assessment & Master Plan (Executive Summary)
A guide for private and public sectors, systems, and stakeholders striving to create more accessible, equitable, aligned, and effective mental health and substance use disorder systems in Utah.
Utah Behavioral Health Assessment & Master Plan
A guide for private and public sectors, systems, and stakeholders striving to create more accessible, equitable, aligned, and effective mental health and substance use disorder systems in Utah.
Health Insight: Medical Inflation – Where Are We Now?
Given concerns about overall economic inflation, it may be surprising to learn that medical inflation is slowing and is currently approaching some of the lowest levels in history. A look at medical inflation over the last 20 years highlights this slowed growth (Figure 2). Except for a significant increase from 2019-2020 (4.7%), medical inflation growth continued to slow over the past three years.
Public Health Practice: Effective Technical Assistance Modalities to Support Chronic Disease Prevention Programming
Stakeholders pursuing Medicaid coverage of the National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) lifestyle change program must engage in intensive and intentional activity. Effective technical assistance (TA) can support stakeholders in reaching the activity level necessary to gain coverage and successfully deliver the program to Medicaid beneficiaries.
Economic Impacts of Utah’s Life Sciences and Health Care Innovation Industry
Utah’s life sciences and health care innovation industry creates substantial economic impacts across the state.
Relational Health: The Connection Between Adult and Childhood Mental Health
Childhood mental health is influenced by several factors, including genetic predisposition, parental or caregiver mental health, and exposure to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) such as violence in the home or community, emotional abuse or neglect, and economic hardship. Although the relationship between these factors is complex, Utah’s higher-than-average ACE scores and adult mental health needs indicate areas of potential influence to support childhood mental health in the state.
Insight: Concerns About Affordability Continue to Frame Utah’s Changing Health Care Coverage Landscape
By: Melanie Beagley The last decade saw significant changes to the health care coverage landscape in Utah and across the U.S. The passing of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) ushered in efforts to expand health care coverage to population groups historically uninsured or underinsured, including households living near or below the federal poverty level and young adults. It also supported certain employers in providing health care coverage to their employees[i],[ii] and prohibited health plans from denying coverage based on preexisting conditions.[iii] […]