Our Research
We use quantitative methods and data science to explore how the differentiated implementation of public health policies can create new disparities or exacerbate existing ones. Overall, our research agenda centers on the effects of healthcare policy for Hispanic populations and at-risk groups. We investigate disparities in access to employer-based health insurance, reliance on Medicare and Medicaid, out-of-pocket expenditures, barriers to diabetes care, and dementia outcomes—aiming to inform policies and practices that promote health equity across diverse communities.
Research Areas
Alzheimer's Disease and Diabetes
Disparities in diabetes and ADRD rates among Hispanic older adults, stem in large part from policy-driven inequities in healthcare access and utilization, rather than from inherent physiological differences. Using administrative data, we investigate how dual diagnoses of diabetes and ADRD among Hispanic older adults (aged 65+) affect healthcare utilization, caregiving access, and health behaviors in the U.S.-Mexico border region.
Recent studies find that social policy retrenchment leads to negative health effects in the US. Findings highlight impacts in mental health measures such as added anxiety and stress from the loss of social security programs such as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). These studies generally test for negative health effects at the subnational level, so the individual-level pathways to negative health effects remain unclear. In this project, we examine whether and how social policy retrenchment affects physical and mental health in a predominantly Hispanic city (El Paso, TX) where cuts from both programs were implemented in 2023.
Substance Use, Mental Health, and Access to Care
Substance use disorders do not occur in isolation; they are shaped by broader social, economic, and policy environments that influence risk, service access, and treatment outcomes. In this line of research, we examine how health policy, insurance coverage, unmet care needs, and structural barriers affect substance use and behavioral health outcomes among Hispanic and other underserved populations, particularly in border communities. Using quantitative methods and population-level data, we investigate patterns of substance use, co-occurring mental health challenges, and disparities in treatment utilization to generate evidence that can inform more equitable and responsive public health policy.
