Health policy roundtable panel discussion: translating health insurance studies into policy proposals

Health Services Research, June, 2004 by Christina E. Folz

In order to get press coverage, research probably has to have drama. In other words, it needs to show that the scope of a problem is bigger than we previously thought, or it should be directly relevant to a policy that is currently under debate.

Researchers should also bear in mind that federal and state governments are composed of many different agencies that have myriad deputies, assistants, and policy relevant staffand these are the people behind the scenes who are working with top decision-makers to formulate policy. A lot of researchers go into those jobs and they are the individuals who are more likely to read and understand our research. Developing and nurturing connections with these folks may help policy analysts get their work recognized.

Finally, because policy is driven by cost considerations, researchers should strive to get their studies on the desks of those who use research to make financial assumptions about how policies will work. Especially in this current environment of fiscal stress, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the Office of Management and Budget call the shots in many, many ways.

Kathryn Haslanger: I would like to add two observations to Jeanne's comments. In order for research to be relevant, there has to be space available in the policy debate for information. Some debates are so overwhelmed by ideology and the agendas of well-funded interest groups that it is really hard to make the case for information--no matter how clear and targeted the message or how timely it is.

Second, there are many people at the state level, within the federal administration, and in relevant interest groups with whom researchers can communicate directly. Policy analysts should act as a research bureau for these individuals when they need information. That means they must be willing to quickly return their calls and answer questions about their work. Researchers should check in with them frequently and ask them what is coming up, what is on their minds, and what they think will happen next.

Richard Kronick: We have all heard the mantra that the message needs to be simple, and that is certainly an important part of making research relevant. The message should also be targeted to the likely audience. Some research is used primarily by interest groups in an attempt to persuade politicians to support their position; other studies are used by politicians who have taken a position and want evidence to justify it in the face of opposition.

Sherry Glied: What can researchers and policy analysts do to anticipate where the next health policy question will come from?

Jeanne Lambrew: If policy analysts want to see what is coming, they should just open the newspaper. Researchers tend to think that it is too late for them to address issues that are in the news right now, but in reality these debates go on for years. I wish that, in 2000, when Congress began looking at major bills to reform Medicare, investigators had decided to focus on specific aspects of that legislation and how it would work. Three years later, we are in a situation where there has not been a lot of analysis informing the new Medicare prescription drug plan. Granted, it is difficult to research policies that are brand new or evolving--because researchers need to find ways to study something that has never been done before--but with a little creativity it can be done.