Center Research

The faculty of the Center for Health Law Studies are active scholars in the field of health law. Each year they work with local and national organizations to produce impactful research.

Medicaid: Rx4J Leadership Comments on HHS Interim Final Rule Regarding Work Reporting Requirements

Through its work with children and families at the Danis Pediatric Center, Rx4J sees firsthand how health-harming legal needs and administrative barriers can affect access to healthcare. That direct client experience helps inform systems-level advocacy aimed at addressing laws, regulations and policies that influence health outcomes. In their comment letter to HHS on its interim final rule implementing Medicaid work reporting requirements, Rx4J leaders raised concerns about provisions that could lead to coverage losses for children and families and complicate eligibility protections intended by Congress.

• Comments Letter: IFR Medicaid Community Engagement from Rx4J

Post-Dobbs Research and Publications

• Missouri abortion law after the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs:
  Sidney Watson and SLU LAW student Mary Quandt publish primer analyzing Missouri’s criminal laws

Research on the Use of Racial Equity Tools in Local Governments

In partnership with the University's Institute of Healing Justice and Equity and with support of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Policies for Action program, the center has studied the use of racial equity tools in 107 local governments to produce this report.

• Governmental Use of Racial Equity Tools to Address Systemic Racism and the Social Determinants of Health

Research to Support Medicaid Expansion in Missouri

Professors Sidney Watson and Heather Bednarek, of the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business, have worked alongside Washington University Center for Health Economics and Policy to conduct and produce research in support of Medicaid expansion in Missouri.

• Brief: Medicaid Managed Care Hospital Networks in Missouri: Too Far to Travel
• Fact Sheet: Missouri Hospitals In- and- Out-of-Network by Medicaid Managed Care Plan, August 2021 (verified through July 22, 2021)
• Fact Sheet: Medicaid Expansion Enrollment and Eligibility Update: Geographic Distribution of Medicaid Enrollees - Maps
• Fact Sheet: Medicaid Expansion Enrollment and Eligibility Update: Characteristics of Expansion Enrollees
• Fact Sheet: Medicaid Expansion Enrollment and Eligibility Update: Health Status of Expected New Expansion Enrollees
• Medicaid Expansion in Missouri: Promising Approaches and Key Lessons from Other States
• Brief: Medicaid Expansion Implementation in Missouri Innovative Outreach and Enrollment Strategies
• HEALTH CARE SERVICES & CAPACITY FOLLOWING MEDICAID EXPANSION: What can we learn from late expanding states?  (Powerpoint)
• Fact Sheet: Medicaid Expansion Enrollment and Eligibility Update: Geographic Distribution of Healthcare Providers
• Medicaid Expansion Enrollment and Eligibility Update: Demographics of Expansion Enrollees (Powerpoint)
• Public Comments Filed Regarding the Proposed Phase out of Gateway Coverage in St. Louis