Dr. Meghan Bellerose is an assistant professor of population health sciences in the Division of Health Policy and Economics. She joins Weill Cornell Medicine from Brown University, where she obtained her PhD in health services research.
How did you first become involved in your field?
I became involved in health policy research through direct service work in public health. During college, I helped people enroll in SNAP benefits at a local food bank, worked at a drop-in center for unhoused teenagers, and served as an advocate for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. Across these roles, I saw how deeply people's health and well-being were shaped by the policies and administrative systems governing access to health care and public benefits programs. Even the most dedicated case managers, providers, and advocates struggled to obtain care for their clients due to complicated administrative processes, eligibility rules, and insurance requirements.
Dr. Meghan Bellerose
I pursued an MPH at Columbia University to better understand how health policies are designed and, while there, became involved in maternal health research. At that time, New York City had launched a pilot program to address racial inequities in maternal health by expanding Medicaid coverage for birth doulas. It was exciting to see research contribute to those policy discussions and the adoption of similar legislation across the country. I graduated wanting to contribute to that process myself, which ultimately led me to pursue a PhD in health services research at Brown University.
What expertise do you bring to this role?
My research examines how health insurance policies shape access to reproductive health care in the US. Much of my work focuses on people with disabilities, who continue to experience massive disparities in access to contraceptive, pregnancy, and postpartum care. In my research, I use a combination of qualitative and econometric methods. I often leverage large administrative datasets, including Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial insurance claims to evaluate the effects of state and federal health policies. I also possess expertise working with advocates, state agencies, and policymakers to shape research questions and translate findings into policy.
What brings you to Weill Cornell Medicine?
I was drawn to Weill Cornell Medicine because of the opportunity to collaborate with researchers across disciplines, particularly through the Cornell Health Policy Center. Many of the questions I'm interested in, including those related to Medicaid, disability, and maternal health policy, sit at the intersection of public health, medicine, economics, and public policy. It’s exciting to be at a university that encourages and fosters those connections.
The Department of Population Health Sciences has a very strong data infrastructure, including several national administrative claims databases. Having access to these data allows us to ask bigger questions and use rigorous methods to inform policy and advocacy. Additionally, I’m thrilled to be back in New York City, where there's strong advocacy around maternal health and disability, and a significant record of researchers and decision-makers working to implement city and state policies that support health equity.
Are there any trends or issues you are currently following in your field?
One policy debate I've been following closely addresses the growing scrutiny around prior authorization requirements. While prior authorization is intended to promote appropriate use of health care services and control costs, there is increasing concern that it can delay recommended medical care and create substantial administrative work for clinicians and patients.
This debate reflects a broader and important shift in health policy toward recognizing administrative barriers as important determinants of health care access. Rather than evaluating insurance solely based on eligibility and coverage of services, policymakers are increasingly asking how administrative requirements, like prior authorization, appeals processes, and provider network adequacy, shape patients' ability to obtain care in practice and the amount of work patients must do to access covered services. I think this shift is especially important for pregnant people and people with disabilities for whom care is often intensive, time-sensitive, and spread across multiple providers and care settings. As a result, these populations are particularly likely to experience the cumulative effects of administrative barriers that delay access to care.
- Highlights