Teresa M. Waters, PhD
Dean, School of Public Health
- Augusta GA UNITED STATES
Dr. Teresa Waters' research focuses on health care financing and health policy.
Multimedia
Biography
Areas of Expertise
Accomplishments
UT Student Government Association Excellence in Teaching Award, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
2003
HCUP Outstanding Article of the Year Award, AHRQ and AcademyHealth
2016
Education
Vanderbilt University
Ph.D.
Economics
1992
Dordt College, Sioux Center
B.A.
Accounting
1987
Affiliations
- American Economic Association : Member, 1991 – 1998
- Association for Health Services Research/AcademyHealth : Member, 1992 – Present
- International Health Economics Association : Member, 1998 – Present
- American Society of Health Economists : Member, 2012 – Present
Media Appearances
UK awarded $19 million to research tobacco regulation in Appalachia, inform FDA
University of Kentucky News online
2023-10-06
Co-directing AppalTRuST are Ellen J. Hahn, Ph.D., the Marcia A. Dake Endowed Professor in the College of Nursing, the director of the Bridging Research Efforts and Advocacy Toward Healthy Environments (BREATHE), and Teresa M. Waters, Ph.D., professor and dean of public health at Augusta University, and formerly professor and chair of health management and policy in the UK College of Public Health.
Articles
Technology, data, people, and partnerships in addressing unmet social needs within Medicaid Managed Care
BMC Health Services Research2024
Background Individuals with unmet social needs experience adverse health outcomes and are subject to greater inequities in health and social outcomes. Given the high prevalence of unmet needs among Medicaid enrollees, many Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) are now screening enrollees for unmet social needs and connecting them to community-based organizations (CBOs) with knowledge and resources to address identified needs. The use of screening and referral technology and data sharing are often considered key components in programs integrating health and social services. Despite this emphasis on technology and data collection, research suggests substantial barriers exist in operationalizing effective systems. Methods We used qualitative methods to examine cross-sector perspectives on the use of data and technology to facilitate MCO and CBO partnerships in Kentucky, a state with high Medicaid enrollment, to address enrollee social needs. We recruited participants through targeted sampling, and conducted 46 in-depth interviews with 26 representatives from all six Kentucky MCOs and 20 CBO leaders.
Overweight/obesity, gestational weight gain, postpartum weight retention, and maternal/neonatal complications in the military
Obesity2024
Objective The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence of overweight/obesity and excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) among military beneficiaries and to assess associations of these risk factors with maternal/neonatal complications and substantial postpartum weight retention (PPWR). Methods We obtained data for 48,391 TRICARE beneficiaries who gave birth in 2018 or 2019 in the United States. We used logistic regression and ANOVA to examine relationships among overweight/obesity, GWG, maternal/neonatal complications, and substantial PPWR. Results Most TRICARE beneficiaries (75%) had excessive GWG, and 42% had substantial PPWR. Dependents were less likely than active‐duty women to have excessive GWG (odds ratio [OR] = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.60–0.88). Women with excessive GWG were three times more likely to have substantial PPWR (OR = 3.57, 95% CI: 3.14–4.06). Those with excessive GWG were more likely to have maternal/neonatal complications (e.g., pregnancy‐induced hypertension, cesarean delivery).
Longitudinal Trends in Insurer Participation in Multisector Population Health Activities
INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing2024
Healthcare organizations increasingly engage in activities to identify and address social determinants of health (SDOH) among their patients to improve health outcomes and reduce costs. While several studies to date have focused on the evolving role of hospitals and physicians in these types of population health activities, much less is known about the role health insurers may play. We used data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Public Health Systems for the period 2006 to 2018 to examine trends in health insurer participation in population health activities and in the multi-sector collaborative networks that support these activities. We also used a difference-in-differences approach to examine the impact of Medicaid expansion on insurer participation in population health networks. Insurer participation increased in our study period both in the delivery of population health activities and in the integration into collaborative networks that support these activities.
Remote Monitoring App for Endocrine Therapy Adherence Among Patients With Early-Stage Breast Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial
JAMA Network Open2024
Importance Adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) use among women with early-stage, hormone receptor–positive breast cancer reduces the risk of cancer recurrence, but its adverse symptoms contribute to lower adherence. Objective To test whether remote monitoring of symptoms and treatment adherence with or without tailored text messages improves outcomes among women with breast cancer who are prescribed AET. Design, Setting, and Participants This nonblinded, randomized clinical trial (RCT) following intention-to-treat principles included English-speaking women with early-stage breast cancer prescribed AET at a large cancer center with 14 clinics across 3 states from November 15, 2018, to June 11, 2021. All participants had a mobile device with a data plan and an email address and were asked to use an electronic pillbox to monitor AET adherence and to complete surveys at enrollment and 1 year.
Medicare Fee-For-Service Spending for Fall Injury and Nonfall Events: The Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study
Innovation in Aging2024
Background and Objectives Fall injuries are prevalent in older adults, yet whether higher spending occurs after nonfracture (NFFI) and fracture is unknown. We examined whether incident fall injuries, including NFFI and fractures, were associated with higher Medicare spending in 12 months after incident events in older adults. Research Design and Methods The Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study included 1 595 community-dwelling adults (53% women, 37% Black; 76.7 ± 2.9 years) with linked Medicare Fee-For-Service (FFS) claims at 2000/01 exam. Incident outpatient and inpatient fall injuries (N = 448) from 2000/01 exam to December 31, 2008 were identified using the first claim with a nonfracture injury diagnosis code with a fall E-code, or a fracture diagnosis code with/without an E-code.