Jonah Kushner

Assistant Policy Researcher, RAND; Ph.D. Student, Pardee RAND Graduate School

Off Site Office

Education

M.P.P., The University of Chicago; B.A. in political science, Reed College

One Page Bio

Overview

Jonah Kushner is a Ph.D. student at the Pardee RAND Graduate School and an assistant policy researcher at RAND. His interests include workforce development and the future of work; affordable housing and homelessness; and health care delivery, health care payment, and social determinants of health.

Prior to joining Pardee RAND, he was a principal research associate at Oregon Health & Science University’s Center for Health Systems Effectiveness, where he led evaluations of Medicaid demonstration waivers in Oregon and Washington. He has also conducted policy research at a state Medicaid agency, a health insurance exchange, and a labor union.

Research Focus

Selected Publications

Kushner, Jonah, Jordan Byers, Shauna Petchel, Deborah J. Cohen, Karen Jensen, Katie Bittinger, and K. John McConnell, "Washington’s Medicaid Transformation Project: Engaging the Health Care and Social Service Sectors to Improve Health Care Delivery and Address the Social Determinants of Health," Healthcare, 9(3), 2021

Kushner, Jonah, K. John McConnell, Kyle Tracy, Matthew Goerg, Anna Levy, Stephan Lindner, Jennifer D. Hall, et al., Medicaid Transformation Project Evaluation: Baseline Report, Center for Health Systems Effectiveness, Oregon Health & Science University, 2020

Jonah Kushner, K. John McConnell, "Addressing Social Determinants of Health through Medicaid: Lessons from Oregon," Journal of Health Policy, Politics and Law, 44(6), 2019

Kushner, Jonah, Kyle Tracy, Bonnie Lind, Stephanie Renfro, Ruth Rowland, and K. John McConnell, Evaluation of Oregon’s 2012-2017 Medicaid Waiver, Center for Health Systems Effectiveness, Oregon Health & Science University, 2017

Publications

Journal Article
CalAIM and Specialty Behavioral Health Care: Lessons from Other States on Value-Based Payment
This report examines the experience of state Medicaid agencies with implementation of value-based payment models for behavioral health care and the implications of that experience for future payment reform in California.
May 5, 2023
Research Brief
Do Low-Income Students Benefit from Stacking Credentials? Descriptive Evidence from Colorado and Ohio
The authors describe findings from a study on how frequently low-income individuals are stacking credentials, whether stacking increases wage-earning opportunities, and which fields provide the best returns from stacking.
Apr 13, 2023
Research Brief
States Can Take Steps to Address Potential Barriers to Equity in Stackable Credential Pipelines
The authors examine barriers to stacking credentials for low-income individuals -- limited chances for stacking in some fields and institutions, insufficient information, and challenges moving between programs -- and consider solutions from stakeholders.
Apr 13, 2023
Report
Stackable Credential Pipelines and Equity for Low-Income Individuals: Evidence from Colorado and Ohio
The authors examine whether low-income individuals are stacking credentials and benefiting economically, explore systemic barriers to stackable credential opportunities for low-income individuals, and consider solutions to strengthen these pipelines.
Apr 13, 2023
Tool
Permanent Supportive Housing in Los Angeles County: A Map-Based Tool
This tool is a comprehensive attempt to combine financing data, land use, and service operation records for permanent supportive housing projects in Los Angeles County into a publicly available map-based database.
Sep 27, 2022
Report
Carve-In Models for Specialty Behavioral Health Services in Medicaid: Lessons for the State of California
To inform California's consideration of a policy to carve Medicaid financing of specialty behavioral health care into the state's Medicaid managed care system, the authors examine other states' experiences with this approach.
Feb 11, 2022