Nihaarika Sharma, M.S.W., M.P.H.

Lauren Blatt

Senior Researcher

Lauren Blatt is a Senior Researcher at L&M Policy Research. She has spent over 20 years using qualitative and quantitative research methods and analyses to inform, evaluate, and improve health care programs and performance. Ms. Blatt is also experienced in developing outreach, education, and decision-support materials and tools for a variety of target audiences and has conducted hundreds of key informant interviews, in-depth formative, cognitive and usability interviews, focus groups, and small group discussions with consumers, Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers, health care providers, and other professionals.

Michael Cavanaugh, M.A.

Senior Researcher

Michael Cavanaugh, M.A., is a Senior Researcher at L&M Policy Research specializing in community-based participatory research and evaluation with tribal communities and consumer research for federal health programs. His expertise spans ethnography, qualitative research methods, and culturally responsive evaluation strategies. Mr. Cavanaugh supports consumer research for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), conducting qualitative studies that inform marketplace policy, communications strategy, and Medicare decision-support tools. His consumer-facing work includes in-depth interviews and focus groups with HealthCare.gov and Medicare beneficiaries on topics ranging from enrollment experiences and plan selection to fraud prevention and healthy aging initiatives.

Ann Cheng, M.P.H.

Research Associate

Ann Cheng, M.P.H., is a Research Associate at L&M Policy Research. Ms. Cheng has experience conducting mixed-methods health policy research in collaboration with both the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and other clients. Her work includes survey research, in-depth interviews, and the analysis of quantitative and qualitative data to inform policy and program decisions. At L&M, she provides research and analytic support on coverage and consumer-focused health insurance issues, working closely with clients and stakeholders to translate findings into actionable insights. Her experience includes synthesizing evidence on insurer and provider practices, supporting policy-relevant analyses, and contributing to consumer research activities such as survey analysis, usability testing, and formative research related to Medicare and the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Sally Crelia, M.P.H.

Senior Research Director

Sally J. Crelia, M.P.H., is a Senior Research Director at L&M Policy Research. Ms. Crelia has extensive experience in various methods of health services and health communications research and evaluation. She has conducted hundreds of cognitive interviews with patients and caregivers, moderated focus groups with consumers and providers, convened technical-expert panels, and conducted key informant interviews with information intermediaries, consumer groups, providers, payers, and state/local government agencies, in English and in Spanish. She currently conducts formative research, ad message testing, and usability research with diverse audiences, from consumers without health insurance to information intermediaries such as health insurance counselors to professional audiences such as primary care providers or hospital quality improvement staff.

Richard de Prieto-Quintero

Research Assistant

Richard de Prieto-Quintero is a Research Assistant at L&M Policy Research with experience in public health research and qualitative and quantitative data analysis. Mr. de Prieto currently supports several projects for federal and private clients through survey research, quantitative and qualitative data analysis, and literature reviews to inform research findings and policy recommendations. For the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), he supports consumer research to improve the Health Insurance Marketplace, with the goal of enhancing enrollment processes and user experience. For the National Council on Aging (NCOA), he supports the development of case studies and stakeholder engagement to inform strategies that reduce administrative burdens and improve benefit access for aging populations.

Colleen Dobson, M.S.

Senior Researcher

Colleen Dobson, M.S., is a Senior Researcher at L&M Policy Research with fifteen years of experience conducting qualitative research to support healthcare communication and evaluation projects, with a particular focus on Medicare and the Health Insurance Marketplace. She has conducted hundreds of in-depth interviews and focus groups with consumer audiences including Medicare beneficiaries, caregivers, Marketplace enrollees, uninsured individuals, and individuals with disabilities and chronic conditions. She has also led key informant interviews and focus groups with consumer groups, providers, and state and local governments.

Julia Doherty, M.H.S.A.

Senior Research Director

Julia A. Doherty, M.H.S.A., is a Senior Research Director at L&M Policy Research with more than 35 years of experience in health care management, policy, and research. Ms. Doherty brings expertise in the evaluation of health care organizations, payment models, and delivery systems. During her 16-year tenure at L&M, she has led numerous large-scale assessment and evaluation projects and advised public and private sector clients on policies related to care delivery transformation. Ms. Doherty has contributed to a number of the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) value-based payment model evaluations (from Pioneer to REACH ACOs, HHVBP, MCCM, NHVBP) leading efforts to collect primary data to assess model impacts. She has facilitated national and state stakeholder meetings and managed expert panels on health care policy, delivery and payment reform. Ms. Doherty has also conducted over 1,000 key informant interviews and case studies nationwide with key health care executives and staff, providers, payers, federal and state policy makers, suppliers, manufacturers, researchers, patient advocates, and beneficiaries.

Amanda Dranch

Research Associate

Amanda Dranch is a Research Associate at L&M Policy Research with over three years of qualitative research experience in health policy. At L&M, Ms. Dranch has supported various projects through literature reviews, environmental scans, policy analyses, and in-depth interviews with key stakeholders such as consumers, clinicians, health care administrators, health informaticists, and state and federal policymakers. Much of her work has focused on garnering stakeholder perspectives and experiences related to value-based payment models, clinical and administrative decision-making, and health care access.

Mei-Chia Fong, Ph.D.

Senior Researcher

Mei-Chia Fong, Ph.D., is a Senior Researcher at L&M Policy Research with nine years of post-doctorate experience in applied public health research settings. Trained as a life-course sociologist, Dr. Fong’s approach to health topics integrates an account of the complex interplay between social structures, political and cultural contexts, community assets and needs, accessibility and quality of healthcare services, and people’s life experiences, developmental trajectories, and health outcomes. Her research areas include Population and social demography; Health systems, workforce, service delivery; Health disparities and equity; Life course and aging; Stress exposure and Mental health; Medical sociology; Policy analysis; and Evaluation research.

Judy Gutierrez, M.H.A.

Researcher

Judy Gutierrez, M.H.A., is a Researcher at L&M Policy Research. She has extensive experience in project management, health administration, data collection, and working to advance health equity for marginalized communities. In her role at L&M, Ms. Gutierrez collaborates closely with project teams, leading and supporting various qualitative research studies and ensuring project deliverables are completed. She supports the design and execution of research protocols, including primary data collection with healthcare consumers in Spanish and English. Currently, Ms. Gutierrez supports consumer testing research projects for Healthcare.gov and Medicare.gov, utilizing focus groups, in-depth interviews, and small group discussions to enhance web tool usability and develop effective communication strategies.

Chelsea Hipwell, M.P.H.

Researcher

Chelsea Hipwell, M.P.H., is a Researcher at L&M Policy Research. Ms. Hipwell has five years of experience working on qualitative public health research in both English and Spanish with an emphasis on improving equitable access to healthcare and social determinants of health. At L&M, Ms. Hipwell supports research to improve outreach and education efforts and refine decision support tools for Health Insurance Marketplace consumers and Medicare beneficiaries for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) by monitoring recruitment, conducting in-depth interviews, and analyzing qualitative data. She has supported a range of projects to date, including formative research, usability testing, and ad concept testing.

Cloris Huan

Research Assistant

Cloris Huan is a Research Assistant at L&M Policy Research with experience in qualitative and quantitative research in public health and health policy. At L&M, Ms. Huan primarily assists in projects for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to better understand the attitudes and behaviors of Medicare populations through qualitative research including in-depth interviews, focus groups, and environmental scans. Ms. Huan aids in formative and usability research to improve innovations communication and decision-support tools for Medicare populations. She also conducts research to improve communication with Medicare beneficiaries and caregivers about coverage, choice, and quality (CCQ) by developing and testing publicly reported information on patient experience with quality measures. Additionally, she supports the primary data collection, analysis, and evaluation to inform the implementation of the Accountable Care Organization Realizing Equity, Access, and Community Health (ACO REACH) model.

Margaret E. Johnson, M.B.A.

Director

Margaret E. Johnson, M.B.A., is a Director at L&M with over 25 years of experience in federal and state health care policy, research, and management. Ms. Johnson brings extensive experience conducting primary research data collection, having led and analyzed hundreds of key informant interviews and focus groups with state health officials, providers, payers, consumers, and employers about the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Ms. Johnson is experienced in analyzing and reporting findings using qualitative methods, designing and writing case studies, leading site visits, conducting environmental scans, and providing training and technical assistance. Her policy areas of expertise include a range of topics including the intersection of public benefits in the U.S., especially for older adults; issues of access in Medicare, Medicaid and Marketplace populations; and innovations in Medicare and Medicaid payment policy.

Ferhat Q. Kassamali, M.Sc., M.P.H.

Senior Researcher

Ferhat Q. Kassamali, M.Sc., M.P.H., is a Senior Researcher at L&M Policy Research. He has over two decades of experience in financial analysis and modeling, strategic planning, business operations, data analytics, prospective payment systems, program evaluation, and general health care policy and research. Mr. Kassamali has extensive project management experience having successfully managed numerous large, multi-year projects, as well as project teams involving multiple subcontractors. Additionally, he has extensive experience gathering expert input, moderating work groups and technical expert panels, leading site visits, and evaluating and providing technical assistance and training.

William Lane

Senior Researcher

William P. Lane, is a Senior Researcher at L&M Policy Research. He has more than 30 years of experience in organizational strategy and operations, managed care operational assessments, and formative and evaluative research, including key informant interviews and case studies with consumer groups, providers, government agencies, and consumers across a range of health care topics. Notable project work includes coordinating the first health insurance conferences in India and Egypt, several managed care evaluations for participating in the Medicare or Medicaid programs, and assessing communications strategies for a number of products involving targeted populations in order to increase the use of services, particularly preventive healthcare.

Anna Lloyd

Research Associate

Anna Lloyd is a Research Associate at L&M Policy Research. Ms. Lloyd utilizes experience in clinical care and qualitative research to support the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in improving web tools and outreach materials for the Health Insurance Marketplace. She conducts and analyzes in-depth interviews, focus groups, and environmental scans to understand Marketplace-eligible consumers’ perspectives, guide communication strategies, and enhance the HealthCare.gov enrollment process. Ms. Lloyd has also assisted with research to inform messaging for the Alzheimer’s Association and Medicare.gov.

Alyson Emily Marano, R.N., M.P.H.

Senior Researcher

Alyson Emily Marano, R.N., M.P.H., is a Senior Researcher at L&M Policy Research with more than 25 years of experience in public health. She leads high-impact qualitative research initiatives for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to bridge the gap between complex health policy and consumer understanding. Since 2012, Ms. Marano has spearheaded consumer research to optimize the Health Insurance Marketplace, serving as the lead researcher for HealthCare.gov’s Out-of-Pocket Cost tool and directing Information Architecture (IA) efforts to improve data accessibility and navigation for millions of users.

Madelyn J. McDonald, M.P.H.

Research Coordinator

Madelyn J. McDonald, M.P.H., is a Research Coordinator at L&M Policy Research. She has expertise in substance abuse research and treatment, behavioral health, health policy, population health, and qualitative research with vulnerable populations. Ms. McDonald has extensive project management experience, having successfully managed numerous multi-year projects spanning government, academia, and private institutions. Her recent work includes supporting a regulation and comment analysis project on physician payment and Medicare Advantage for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), a project for the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) offering research and analytic support with qualitative research on billing practices of inpatient psychiatric facilities.

Heather McPheron, M.P.H.

Director

Heather McPheron, M.P.H., is a Director at L&M Policy Research with over 15 years of experience in health care delivery, policy, and payment innovation. Her consulting expertise spans operations improvement, program implementation, evaluation, and policy analysis, with particular strength in project management, qualitative research design, and regulatory review. She brings extensive experience conducting primary research, having led and analyzed interviews and case studies with health care leaders, clinicians, payers, and health officials. She is skilled in qualitative analysis and reporting, case study design, and providing training and technical assistance to diverse stakeholders.

Elisabeth Mitrano Heidenreich

Research Assistant

Elisabeth Mitrano Heidenreich is a Research Assistant at L&M Policy Research. Ms. Mitrano Heidenreich has experience working on qualitative public health research in both English and Spanish. She supports research to improve outreach and education efforts and refine decision-support tools for Health Insurance Marketplace consumers and Medicare beneficiaries for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) by conducting in-depth interviews, preparing and translating documents, and supporting in data collection, recruiting, analysis and reporting. She has also assisted with research to inform messaging for the Alzheimer’s Association.

Our Team