Kara Gavin
Research and Policy Media Relations Manager
Gavin draws on more than 25 years of experience in communicating about science, medicine and health policy. She focuses mainly on the health services research done by members of the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, who work to understand and improve the safety, quality, equity and affordability of health care. As part of the Michigan Medicine communication team, she has lead responsibility for primary care and mental health topics. Contact: [email protected]; Twitter: @Karag
Health Lab
1 in 4 kids live with parents who have alcohol or other drug problems
Children living with parents who have addiction issues, also called substance used disorder, have higher risks later in life. A new study shows 1 in 4 currently live in such households.
Health Lab
What does Medicaid do?
Medicaid provides health insurance coverage for tens of millions of American children and adults. Research on its impact shows positive effects in many ways.
Health Lab
Medicaid unwinding linked to opioid addiction treatment disruptions
Buprenorphine prescription interruptions were most common in states that had the biggest coverage drops during Medicaid unwinding; study has importance for future Medicaid policy.
Health Lab
Medicaid unwinding disrupted young people’s access to chronic disease medicines
Children and young adults living in the states with the highest Medicaid enrollment drops during the “unwinding” process were more likely to have disruptions in mental health, asthma and epilepsy medication.
Health Lab
Poll reveals short term thinking about long term care
Poll of people over 50 shows most haven’t signed legal documents, discussed their wishes with family or friends, or done other things to plan for long term care needs.
Health Lab
To keep high risk patients out of hospitals, at-home monitoring shows promise
Remote patient monitoring at home was associated with a major reduction in hospitalization in high risk patients.
Health Lab
Medicaid telehealth study shows positive impacts
The ability to see doctors and other providers via telehealth improved low income Medicaid participants’ access to care in Michigan
Health Lab
Investing in COVID-19 vaccination more than paid off for U.S.
The money spent to develop, test, buy and administer the first COVID-19 vaccine was more than made up for by prevented medical care and lost productivity.
News Release
Quitting menthol cigarettes is extra hard, but a new U-M study will test the best way to do it
A multimillion dollar study will test two methods of helping people quit the highly addictive menthol form of cigarettes, including one that will use breath monitoring.
Health Lab
Many older adults send their doctors portal messages, but who pays?
Patient portal messages between doctors and older adults are common, but can cost the patient money. A study shows that people with Medicaid coverage are billed as often as those with private insurance.
Health Lab
Most older adults want insurance to cover obesity drugs and many want to use them
Medicare and most private insurance plans don’t cover anti-obesity medications like Wegovy (also sold as Ozempic), but a new poll of older adults shows widespread support and interest in using them.
Health Lab
Weather emergencies affect older adults' health views
A new poll shows many older adults are concerned about the health effects of climate change and that those who have lived through a weather-related emergency are much more likely to be concerned.
Health Lab
Does getting ADHD drugs via telehealth increase addiction risk?
Telehealth treatment of ADHD with stimulant medications has raised worries about addiction risk and substance use disorder; young adults are the main risk group but better screening needed
Health Lab
Telehealth didn’t increase Medicare visits, but drove down post-visit costs
Concerns about telehealth’s potential to lead to more in-person care and higher costs are not panning out, which has implications for extending COVID-era flexibility.
News Release
Eight U-M teams picked for virtual tournament of science
Teams studying liver cancer, brain tumors, obesity medicine, CMV, sleep and memory, cancer immunotherapy aortic aneurysms and bipolar disorder are competing in STAT Madness
