Bundorf Awarded NIHCM Grant to Study Hospital Competition and Value-Based Care

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Sanford is proud to announce that M. Kate Bundorf, J. Alexander McMahon Distinguished Professor of Health Policy and Management, has been awarded a prestigious research grant from the National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM) Foundation.

The grant is part of NIHCM's latest funding cycle, which awarded over $500,000 to support timely, investigator-initiated research projects aimed at improving the U.S. health care system. The selected projects address critical topics including the impact of hospital consolidation, value-based payment models, pharmaceutical practices, and the health care workforce.

Bundorf, who also serves as Faculty Director of Research at the Sanford School, received funding for her project titled "Hospital Competition, Vertical Integration, and Participation in Value-Based Payment Programs." This research will examine how increasing market concentration and vertical integration within the hospital sector influence participation in value-based payment programs across different payers. The study aims to provide crucial evidence on the complex interplay between market structure, provider organization, and the shift towards value-based care models designed to enhance health care quality and efficiency.

Bundorf is a leading expert in health policy and the economics of health care systems, with extensive research covering health insurance markets, provider organization, and consumer decision-making. Her work consistently contributes valuable insights for policymakers and health care stakeholders.

"We are incredibly proud of Professor Bundorf for securing this competitive NIHCM grant," said Anna Gassman-Pines, Professor of Public Policy and Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs in Sanford. "Kate's research tackles fundamental questions about the structure and performance of our health care system. This project on hospital competition and value-based care is vital for understanding how market dynamics impact policy goals. Her continued success in attracting significant research funding underscores the strength and relevance of the policy research conducted here at Sanford. Congratulations to Kate on this well-deserved recognition."

The NIHCM Foundation supports research that provides actionable insights for improving health care quality, access, and affordability. Bundorf's project promises to significantly contribute to the understanding of hospital market dynamics and their implications for evolving payment reforms in the U.S. health care landscape.