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NORC at the University Chicago

Karen Swietek

Principal Health Economist
Health Care Evaluation
Applied Health Economics Program Area
Karen is a health economist specializing in Medicaid policy, program evaluation, and health system transformation.

Karen helps state and federal clients assess how complex health care programs are implemented, who they reach, and whether they achieve their intended goals. Her expertise includes Medicaid demonstrations, value-based payment models, behavioral health and substance use disorder programs, rural health initiatives, and health care delivery reform. Drawing on qualitative and quantitative methods, Karen designs and leads mixed-methods evaluations that generate actionable findings to inform policy, program improvement, and future investments.

At NORC, Karen leads evaluations of Medicaid Section 1115 demonstrations, rural health transformation initiatives, and other major health policy initiatives for state and federal clients. She directs multidisciplinary teams responsible for evaluation design, stakeholder engagement, quantitative and qualitative analyses, and reporting. Her recent work includes leading the Evaluation of Vermont's Rural Health Transformation Program, as well as leadership roles on evaluations in California, Minnesota, Rhode Island, and other states pursuing innovative approaches to improving access, quality, integration, and value in health care.

Karen’s work has been published in several peer-reviewed journals, including The American Journal of Managed Care, Health Services Research, and the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

Quick Links

Expertise

Education

PhD

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

MPH

Tufts University

BA

Tufts University

Appointments & Affiliations

Member

American Society of Health Economists

Project Contributions

Evaluating Vermont’s Medicaid Global Commitment to Health Waiver

Understanding the impact of Vermont’s Global Commitment to Health Section 1115 Demonstration Waiver

Client:

Agency of Human Services, State of Vermont

Evaluation of the National COVID-19 Resiliency Network

Evaluation of a multi-sectoral network addressing the impact of COVID-19 on various communities

Client:

DHHS Office of Minority Health

Documentation of Social Need in 2018 Medicaid Data

Analysis of Medicaid T-MSIS data to understand how well recipients’ social needs are documented

Funder:

NORC at the University of Chicago

Vermont’s Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) Data Roadmap

Informing efforts to improve SDOH data integration in Vermont

Client:

Agency of Human Services, State of Vermont

Evaluation of the Vermont All-Payer Accountable Care Organization Model

Evaluating Vermont’s efforts to improve health outcomes and reduce health care spending

Client:

Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation within the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Evaluating Oregon Health Authority’s ARPA Spending on HCBS Programs

Assessing the impact of American Rescue Plan Act funding on home- and community-based services

Client:

Oregon Health Authority

Evaluating California’s Medicaid Managed Care Transition Waiver

Evaluating the impact of managed care alignment on access to and continuity of Medicaid services

Client:

California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS)

Evaluating Minnesota’s Medicaid 1115 Substance Use Disorder System Reform Waiver

Evaluating efforts to improve access to high-quality, evidence-based SUD treatment for Medicaid recipients

Client:

Minnesota Department of Human Services, Behavioral Health Division

Evaluating Rhode Island's Medicaid Comprehensive Waiver

Evaluation of programs implemented under Rhode Island’s Medicaid section 1115 demonstration

Client:

Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services

Evaluation of the ACO REACH Model

Assessing the ACO REACH Model’s impact on value-based care for Medicare beneficiaries

Client:

Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation within the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Women’s Reproductive & Maternal Health Access in Vermont

Closing the gap between Vermont’s strong health protections and women’s actual access to care

Client:

Vermont Department of Financial Regulation

Publications

Research Library & Findings