Dear Susan,

On Thursday, February 22, you are invited to join Health Affairs Editor-in-Chief Alan Weil as he welcomes back Micky Tripathi of the US Department of Health and Human Services for another edition of Policy Spotlight.

The two will discuss the latest initiatives from the Office of the National Coordinator on patient access to health data, artificial intelligence, and the recent launch of the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement.

Findings From “Mass. and Cass” Encampment Clearing 

In the newly released February issue of Health Affairs, devoted entirely to housing and health, Michael Mayer and coauthors conduct a series of interviews with former residents of the “Mass. and Cass” tent encampment in Boston, Massachusetts.

In January 2022, Boston launched an initiative to clear the encampment and place most residents in transitional harm reduction housing.

The researchers find that those who accessed harm reduction housing reported improvements in access to food, water, and health care and improved health outcomes.

By contrast, some who did not access harm reduction housing were displaced to isolated less-safe living situations, and reported feeling less motivation to pursue health-related goals.

Mayer and coauthors conclude that access to harm reduction housing promotes recovery, alleviates safety concerns, and improves feelings of motivation to pursue housing and employment. 

For more on this paper, listen to a new episode of A Health Podyssey featuring lead author Michael Mayer as well as a video abstract on his findings.

We are beyond excited to begin announcing the addition of new guest authors for our Insiders exclusive premium newsletters.

Starting this month, Brent Fulton of the University of California Berkley will be providing tremendous insight into the world of health care competition and antitrust.

Each month will be an opportunity to dive in deeper into this impactful topic and explore a plethora of engaging facets.

You may be quite familiar with Brent Fulton as he has contributed to Health Affairs for a number of years. His work with coauthors has been featured in the journal as well as in Forefront. He has even been a featured guest on A Health Podyssey.

To make sure you don't miss out on a single exciting edition, become an Insider today!

Bridging The Home-Based Primary Care Gap In Rural Areas

Ginny Rogers et al.

Applications for the 2024–2025 Health Equity Fellowship for Trainees cohort are open until February 15, 2024.

The purpose of the Fellowship is to increase the quantity and quality of manuscripts published by early-career researchers interested in addressing health inequities among underserved racial and ethnic populations, while cultivating future health equity research leaders.

In the program, fellows will receive multilayered mentorship from experienced Health Affairs authors and editorial staff for eighteen months (July 2024–December 2025).