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
Health Policy Division
3600 Civic Center Blvd
8th floor East, 8E #300B
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Health Policy Division
3600 Civic Center Blvd
8th floor East, 8E #300B
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Education:
BA (Economics and Biology)
Swarthmore College, 2009.
PhD (Health Policy, Concentration in Economics)
Harvard University, 2015.
MD
Harvard Medical School, 2017.
BA (Economics and Biology)
Swarthmore College, 2009.
PhD (Health Policy, Concentration in Economics)
Harvard University, 2015.
MD
Harvard Medical School, 2017.
Post-Graduate Training
Resident, Internal Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, 2017-2020.
Resident, Internal Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, 2017-2020.
Certifications
American Board of Internal Medicine Certification, 2020.
Permanent linkAmerican Board of Internal Medicine Certification, 2020.
Selected Publications
Schwartz AL, Kim S, Riaz S, Newhouse J: Prior Authorization for Physician-Administered Drugs: Deterrence Vs. Denials and Spillovers In Medicare Advantage. ASHEcon 2026 Conference Jun 2026.Marin Wolf: Mass. has new limits on insurers' much-hated prior authorizations. Here's what to know. The Boston Globe (Quoted expert) Jun 2026 Notes: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/06/05/business/mass-prior-authorization-insurance/
Song S, Auty S, Yee C, Chalmers K, Pizer SD, Schwartz AL: Use of Low-Value Services to Predict Practice-Level Payments for Value-Based Physician Networks. ASHEcon 2026 Conference Jun 2026.
Leslie Walker and Dan Gorenstein: A Closer Look at a Widely Despised Health Insurance Policy. Tradeoffs (Podcast Interview) May 2026 Notes: https://tradeoffs.org/2025/09/25/a-closer-look-at-a-widely-despised-health-insurance-policy/
Schwartz AL, Kim S, Riaz S, Newhouse J: Prior Authorization for Physician-Administered Drugs: Utilization Changes In Excess of Authorization Denials. 2026 Annual Research Meeting May 2026.
Schwartz AL, Riaz S, Tadikonda P, Reed J, Tanis K: Measuring Financial Conflicts of Interest for Contractors Setting Medicare Coverage Policies. 2026 Annual Research Meeting May 2026.
Joanna Kim, MPH: Risk-Based Contracts Are Unlikely to Cut Waste in Medicare Advantage: Risk-Based Payments May Fail to Lower Low-Value Care, a New Study Shows. LDI Research & Policy Updates May 2026 Notes: https://ldi.upenn.edu/our-work/research-updates/risk-based-contracts-are-unlikely-to-cut-waste-in-medicare-advantage/
Hoag Levins: Finding Rare Agreement on Fixing the Health Care Affordability Crisis: Former Obama and Trump Advisors Find Some Common Ground at D.C. University of Pennsylvania Event. LDI Research & Policy Updates Apr 2026 Notes: https://ldi.upenn.edu/our-work/research-updates/finding-rare-agreement-on-fixing-the-health-care-affordability-crisis/
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.