Lynn Blewett, PhD
Professor, Division of Health Policy and Management

Contact Info
Professor, Division of Health Policy and Management
Director, State Health Access Data Assistance Center (SHADAC)
PhD, Health Services Research, Policy and Administration, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota
MA, Public Affairs, Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota
BA, Psychology, University of Wisconsin
Summary
My research focuses on health care policy and access and I direct the State Health Access Data Assistance Center (SHADAC), a research and policy center funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to support state efforts to monitor and evaluate programs to increase access and coverage. The center provides high level access to federal surveys. As an advocate for information access, I helped to bring a Census Research Data Center to the University of Minnesota, which is the only RDC with a health services and policy focus.
Expertise
Health care policy, access to care, disparities, Medicaid/CHIP, immigrant health, survey research, international health systems
Research
Research Funding Grants
- 2016–2019, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, "State Health Access Data Assistance Center (SHADAC): Helping states bridge the gap between health insurance data and the policy-making process," Principal Investigator
- 2015–2020, NIH NICHHD, "Integrated Health Interview Series Competing Continuation," Principal Investigator
- 2015–2017, MACPAC, "MACPAC Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity Contract," Principal Investigator
- 2014–2017, MN Department of Health and Human Services, "Minnesota State Innovation Model (SIM) Evaluation," Principal Investigator
- 2012–2017, Research Triangle Institute, "Medicaid Expansion Evaluation," Principal Investigator
- 2016–2017, MACPAC, "Churning in the Medicaid Program," Co-Investigator
Publications
Teaching
Teaching Areas
I teach U.S. Health Care Systems and Public Health and International Health Systems and work with both Masters and Doctoral-level students. Graduates who have worked with me have had positions with the Census Bureau, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Congressional Research Service, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Centers for Disease and Prevention.
Courses
- PubH 7894, MS in Health Services Research, Policy, and Administration Plan B Project
- PUBH 8802, Health Services Policy Analysis: Applications
Media
U of MN Health Sciences Expert Link
In The News
SPH News
- The Cost of a Federal Reinsurance to Stabilize States’ Individual Health Insurance Markets (Read More)
- Blewett Talks U.S. Health Care with Ukranian Delegation
In the Media
- Listen to Minnesota consumers on health care aid (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
- One of the most in-demand jobs in Minnesota is in health care. Specifically, one of the lowest paid jobs in health care. (MinnPost)
- Research Brief: Cost of a federal reinsurance program to stabilize states’ individual health insurance markets (InsuranceNewsNet.com)
- The best spot to retire might not be the warmest (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
- More Details are Needed on MinnesotaCare Buy-In Option (Star Tribune)
- Here’s how MN governor candidates Walz and Johnson differ on health care, and what the experts say (Pioneer Press)
- Deductibles hit $2,000 as employers intensify cost shift (Forbes)
- Health insurance costs accelerating for workers (Health Leaders Media)
- Politics Friday: Campaigns and health care (MPR News)
- Number of Minnesotans without health insurance grows by 18,000 (Star Tribune)
- Split markets remain problematic for state exchanges as 2019 plan year approaches (Fierce Healthcare)
- Medical Assistance recipients would face work mandate under new bill (Watchdog.org)
- Work Requirements Give Republicans Cover to Expand Medicaid (US News & World Report)
- Farmer health plans draw 1,700 in Minnesota (Star Tribune)
- Minnesota’s 1332 Reinsurance Waiver Dilemma (Health Affairs Blog)
- New law means farmers have another option for health insurance (Rochester Post Bulletin)
- Farmer cooperative health plans may rattle individual market in Minnesota (Star Tribune)
- Minnesota joins lawsuit over Trump's health care decision (KSTP-TV)
- Latest health care repeal bill in Senate could cost Minnesota billions (Star Tribune)
- Why single-payer is not likely our path forward (Star Tribune)
- Does the health care bill the House passed maintain protection for people with pre-existing conditions, or not? (MinnPost)
- High-risk pools: The Newest proposal to fix the GOP's health plan. Vox
- An interim plan to stabilize Minnesota's individual health insurance market. Star Tribune
- The pitfalls of replacing Obamacare. The Economist
- On health care, Mass. looks to Minn. for some new ideas. Boston Globe
- More kids found coverage with health law. Star Tribune.