Leighton Ku, PhD, MPH
In 2008, Professor Ku joined the faculty of the Department of Health Policy at the GW School of Public Health and Health Services. He brings together a background as a nationally-known health policy researcher, public policy analyst and advocate. Prior to his arrival, he was a senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a well-respected policy organization that focuses on improving policies for low- and moderate-income Americans, and, before that, was a principal researcher at the Urban Institute, another well-known think tank. In addition to these roles, he also served for 15 years as an adjunct faculty in the GW School of Public Policy and Public Administration, where he taught research methods and statistics to doctoral public policy students. Much earlier in his career, he worked in the federal government as a policy and budget analyst for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children nutrition program (WIC). Over his career, Professor Ku has authored or co-authored more than 200 articles and reports about health policy and public health. Some of his works have been accorded honors as top ten academic books (Choice magazine) and most downloaded reports (Commonwealth Fund) in their respective years. He has worked closely with federal and state officials as well as nonprofit organizations and advocates in seeking to strengthen the health care safety net for those in need. He has testified before Congress and state legislatures and was, at one time, a regular panelist for on a radio talk show about health policy. EducationA.B., Harvard College, 1975 ResearchDr. Ku has conducted research and analysis on health care access and insurance coverage for low-income and vulnerable populations, with expertise in issues relating to Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, immigrant health, federal and state health care financing and reform, the impact of cost-sharing, managed care, the health care safety net and reproductive health. TeachingPubH 282 (fall 2008)—Applications of Health Policy Analysis, Department of Health Policy Community ServiceIn 2005 Dr. Ku received an award from the Mississippi Center for Justice for promoting racial and economic justice. He has served on boards, advisory groups and committees for a variety of professional, academic and community organizations. He has served as a grant reviewer for the National Institutes of Health and as a referee for numerous academic journals. He has also submitted expert affidavits in lawsuits in federal, state and local courts relating to health care access and immigrant rights. DepartmentsDepartment of Health Policy SchoolsSchool of Public Policy and Public Administration Institutes and CentersCenter for Health Services Research and Policy Selected PublicationsKu, L., “Comparing Public and Private Health Insurance for Children,” Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, May 11, 2007. Ku, L., Lin, M. and Broaddus, M., Improving Children's Health: A Chartbook about the Roles of Medicaid and SCHIP: 2007 Edition, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Jan. 2007. Ku, L. “Improving Health Insurance and Access to Care for Children in Immigrant Families,” Ambulatory Pediatrics, 7(6):412-20, November 2007. Ku, L. and Broaddus, M. “Coverage of Parents Helps Children, Too,” Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Oct. 20, 2006. Ku, L. “Paying for Language Services in Medicare: Preliminary Options & Recommendations,” National Health Law Program and Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Oct. 2006. Ku, L. “The Slowdown in Medicaid Expenditure Growth,” Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, March 13, 2006. Ku, L. Cohen Ross, D. and Broaddus, M. “Survey Indicates Deficit Reduction Act Jeopardizes Medicaid Coverage for 3 to 5 Million U.S. Citizens,” Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Revised Feb. 17, 2006. Ponce, N., Ku, L., Cunningham, W. and Brown, E.R., “Language Barriers to Health Care Access Among Medicare Beneficiaries,” Inquiry, 43(1):66–76, Spring 2006. Ku, L. “Medicaid: Improving Health, Saving Lives,” Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, July 19, 2005. Ku, L. and Broaddus, M. “Out-Of-Pocket Medical Expenses For Medicaid Beneficiaries Are Substantial And Growing,” Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, May 31, 2005. Ku, L. and Flores, G. “Pay Now or Pay Later: Providing Interpreter Services In Health Care,” Health Affairs, 24(2) 435-44, March/April 2005. Ku, L., St. Louis, M., Black, C., Aral, S., Turner, C., Lindberg, L. and Sonenstein, F., “Risk Behaviors, Medical Care and Chlamydial Infection Among Young Men in the United States”, American Journal of Public Health, 92(7): 1140-42, July 2002. Ku, L. and Cohen-Ross, D. Staying Covered: The Importance of Retaining Health Insurance Coverage for Low-income Families, Commonwealth Fund, Dec. 2002. Ku, L., and Matani, S., “Left Out: Immigrants’ Access to Health Care and Insurance,” Health Affairs, 20(1):247-56, Jan./Feb. 2001. Ku, L. and Broaddus, M., “The Importance of Family-Based Insurance Expansions: New Research on the Effects of State Health Reforms,” Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, September 5, 2000 Ku, L., Ellwood, M., Hoag, S., Ormond, B., and Wooldridge, J., “The Evolution of Medicaid Managed Care Systems and Eligibility Expansions,” Health Care Financing Review, 22(2):7-29, Winter 2000. Ku, L. and Coughlin, T., “Sliding Scale Premium Health Insurance Programs: Four States’ Experience,” Inquiry, 36(4):471-80, Winter 2000. Turner, C, Ku, L., Rogers, S., Lindberg, L, Pleck, J. and Sonenstein, F., "Adolescent Sexual Behavior, Drug Use and Violence: New Survey Technology Detects Elevated Prevalence Among U.S. Males", Science, 280:867-73, May 8, 1998. |
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