Aaron L. Schwartz, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Medical Ethics and Health Policy in Medicine (General Internal Medicine)
Attending Physician, Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA
Core Investigator, Center for Healthcare Evaluation Research and Promotion (CHERP), Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA
Department: Medicine
Contact information
Medical Ethics and Health Policy Department
1130 Blockley Hall
423 Guardian Drive
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6021
1130 Blockley Hall
423 Guardian Drive
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6021
Education:
BA (Economics and Biology)
Swarthmore College, 2009.
PhD (Health Policy, Concentration in Economics)
Harvard University, 2015.
MD
Harvard Medical School, 2017.
Permanent linkBA (Economics and Biology)
Swarthmore College, 2009.
PhD (Health Policy, Concentration in Economics)
Harvard University, 2015.
MD
Harvard Medical School, 2017.
Selected Publications
Schwartz AL, Kim S, Chhatre S, Sutherland A, Katsikas A, Riaz S, Sylwestrzak G, Boudreau E, Navathe AS: Changes in Health Care Utilization and Low-Value Service Use After Risk-Based Contract Adoption in Medicare Advantage JAMA Internal Medicine 186(1): 98-107, Jan 2026.Schwartz A, Werner R: New research shows we pay doctors less to care for Black and Latino patients than white ones. We get what we pay for. In the U.S., doctors are paid very different sums for different patients, even when providing the same service. The Philadelphia Inquirer Jan 2026 Notes: https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/healthcare-doctor-pay-less-black-hispanic-patients-20260111.html.
Schwartz AL, Asch DA, Werner RM: Payments to Physician Practices and Incentives to Serve Different Racial and Ethnic Groups. JAMA Health Forum 6(11): e254561, Nov 2025.
Neprash H, Schwartz AL, Kyle MA, Golberstein E: Rethinking Prior Authorization in Medicare Advantage. The Commonwealth Fund (Blog) Oct 2025 Notes: https://www.commonwealthfund.org/blog/2025/rethinking-prior-authorization-medicare-advantage.
Roberts ET, Phelan J, Schwartz AL, Meara E, Ruggiero D, Estenson L, Werner RM, Figueroa JF: Loss of Subsidized Drug Coverage and Mortality among Medicare Beneficiaries. New England Journal of Medicine 392(20): 2025-2034, May 2025.
Mullangi S, Ukert B, Devries A, Debono D, Santos J, Fisch MJ, Schleicher SM, Navathe AS, Bekelman JE, Schwartz AL, Parikh RB: Association of Participation in Medicare's Oncology Care Model With Spending, Utilization, and Quality Outcomes Among Commercially Insured and Medicare Advantage Members. Journal of Clinical Oncology 43(2): 133-142, Jan 2025.
Schwartz AL: Medicare Risk Adjustment: Goals, Reform Proposals, And New Frontiers. Health Affairs (Project Hope) 44(1): 75-80, Jan 2025.
Schwartz AL: Medicare Risk Adjustment: Goals, Reform Proposals, And New Frontiers. Health Affairs 44(1): 75-80, Jan 2025.
Meyers DJ, Schwartz AL, Jiang L, Yoon J, Trivedi AN: Spending by the Veterans Health Administration for Medicare Advantage Dual Enrollees, 2011-2020. JAMA 332(16): 1392-1394, Oct 2024.
McCook A: A Philadelphia man said he was sober but kept testing positive for alcohol. How did a UPenn doctor crack the case? The doctor working at the VA exposed a flaw in the system for testing people for alcohol use, with implications for hundreds of Philadelphians. (Hint: ever heard of urinary auto-brewery syndrome?). The Philadelphia Inquirer, Health Section Sep 2024 Notes: https://www.inquirer.com/health/urine-test-alcohol-limitations-diabetes-20240904.html#loaded.