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Gary Gaumer

Professor Emeritus

Dr. Gaumer is a health economist with program responsibility for courses in Economics and Business Performance Measurement. He has been a prominent health services researcher, leading the activities of Cambridge-based Abt Associates in this area for many years. An expert on incentive payment systems in health care, he has helped Medicare develop and test incentive systems and has established systems for Medicaid in states including Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, Montana, Alaska and New Mexico. He also has done research on international health, alternative medicine, telemedicine and healthcare labor markets.

As a consultant, he designs and implements health financing and information systems reforms for clients, including the United Nations, World Bank and the US State Department, in such countries as Egypt, Jordan, China, Albania, Armenia, Kosovo, and Iraq. He serves on the Board of the VNA Care Network Hospice. He is a former faculty member and now Research Scholar at the Heller School at Brandeis University where he does research on international health topics for the Gates Foundation and other clients. Gates has focused on quantitative papers dealing with improving the effectiveness of global malaria policy.

Education

  • Ph.D. Northern Illinois University
  • B.S. Bradley University 

Publications/Presentations

Professional Journal Publications

  • Gaumer G, Zeng W, Nandakumar AK. 2014. Modelling the returns on options for improving malaria case management in Ethiopia. Health Policy and Planning 29: 998–1007.
  • Gaumer G, Luan Y, Hariharan D, Crown W, Kates J, Jordan M, et al. Assessing the impact of the president's emergency plan for AIDS relief on all-cause mortality. PLOS Glob Public Health. 2024 Jan 18; 4(1): e0002467. doi:10.1371/ journal.pgph.0002467\
  • Crown W, Hariharan D, Kates J, Gaumer G, Jordan M, Hurley C, Luan Y, Nandakumar A. Analysis of economic and educational spillover effects in PEPFAR countries. PLoS ONE. 2023 Dec 29; 18(12): e0289909. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289909.
  • Gaumer G, Crown WH, Kates J, Luan Y, Hariharan D, Jordan M, Hurley CL, Nandakumar A. Analysis of maternal and child health spillover effects in PEPFAR countries. BMJ Open. 2023 Dec 21;13(12):e070221. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-070221.
  • Gaumer G, Senthil Kumar VS, Crown W, Jordan M, Hurley C, Subramanian M, Nandakumar AK. Equity of the HIV epidemic response in 13 African countries. African Journal of AIDS Research. 2023 Dec 20; 22(4): 276-289.
  • Roya Sherafat-Kazemzadeh, Gary Gaumer, Dhwani Hariharan, Anna Sombrio, Allyala Nandakumar J Glob Health. 2021; 11: 04059. Published online 2021 Oct 30. doi: 10.7189/jogh.11.04059PMCID: PMC8564885 Between a Rock and a Hard Place: How poverty and lack of agency affect HIV risk behaviors among married women in 25 African countries: A cross-sectional study
  • G. Gaumer Coulam, R. and Desilets, R.,"Minority Participation in the Senior Management of Private U.S. Hospitals", Medical Care Research and Review, 2021
  • Halasa-Rappel Y, Gaumer G, Khatri D, Hurley C, Jordan M, Nandakumar A. "The Tale of Two Epidemics: HIV/AIDS in Ghana and Namibia" The Open AIDS JOURNAL, 2021;15: 63-73 doi:10:2174/1874613602115010063
  • Gaumer G, Sherafat-Kazemzadeh R, Jordan M, Nandakumar A. " Wealth and wealth inequality in adult HIV prevalence". Journal of Global Health Reports. January 2021:e2020105. doi:10.29392/001c.18126
  • Gaumer G, Jordan M, Sherafat-Kazemzadeh R, Hariharan D, Bosman V, Nandakumar AK. "The role of economic factors and risky behavior for youth and young adults in the HIV epidemic in 29 low- and middle-income countries". Journal of Global Health Reports. 2021;5:e2021026. doi:10.29392/001c.21946
  • Sherafat-Kazemzadeh R, Gaumer G, Crown W, Daniels E, Brown J, Newaz F, Nandakumar A. "Lack of agency and sexual behaviors among married women: a study of population-based HIV impact assessment (PHIA) surveys in Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia" Journal of Global Health Reports. 2021;5:e2021078. doi:10.29392/001c.26104
  • Gaumer G, Ochigbo E, Sherafat-Kazemzadeh R, Daniels E, Brown J, Hurley C, Nandakumar, "A. Household Factors Associated with Managing the HIV Positive Population and Meeting the UNAIDS Goals". Journal of Global Health Reports. 2021;5:e2021085. doi:10.29392/001c.28068
  • Daniels E, Gaumer G, Newaz F, Nandakumar A. "Risky Sexual Behavior and the HIV Gender Gap for Younger Adults in Sub-Saharan Africa" Journal of Global Health Reports. 2021;5:e2021086. doi:10.29392/001c.28074
  • Y. Halasa-Rappel, (3 others)," How useful are Caries Risk Assessment Tools in Informing the Oral Health Decision-Making Process? " Journal of the American Dental Association, Volume 150, Issue 2, February 2019, Pages 91-102.e2
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adaj.2018.11.011
  • Bayan,S. Shahahmad, Anas A. Khan, Mohammed A. Batais, and Gary Gaumer "A survey of physicians' experience and awareness of institutional provisions designed to foster patient engagement in KSA" , Journal of Taibah University Medical Sciences, Volume 13, Issue 3, April 2018, Pages 291-297
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtumed.2018.03.007
  • Gary Gaumer; Wu Zeng; Allyala Krishna Nandakumar "Modelling the returns on options for improving malaria case management in Ethiopia" Health Policy and Planning 2013; doi: 10.1093/heapol/czt081
  • Marwa Farag, A.K. Nandakumar, Stanley Wallack, Gary Gaumer, Dominic Hodgkin "Health Spending, Health Outcomes, and the Role of Good Governance" and Can Erbil, International Journal of Health Care Finance and Economics (online), 25 December, 2012
  • Marwa Farag, A.K. Nandakumar, Stanley Wallack, Gary Gaumer, Dominic Hodgkin and Can Erbil, "The Income Elasticity of Health Care Spending in Developing and Developed Countries", International Journal of Health Care Finance and Economics Volume 12, Issue 2 (2012), Page 145-162
  • Marwa Farag, A.K. Nandakumar, Stanley Wallack, Gary Gaumer and Dominic Hodgkin "Donor Funding and Government Health Spending In Developing Countries", Health Affairs, Volume 28 (4) July/August 2009.
  • Gary Gaumer, Robert Coulam "Geographic Variation in Minority Representation in Hospital Management in the U.S.", Hospital Topics, Vol. 86, Spring 2009
  • Gary Gaumer, Nefesa Hassan and Michael Murphy "A Primary Care Information System Featuring Feedback to Clinicians", International Journal of Health Planning and Management, 23, No. 3, June-September 2008.
  • Gary Gaumer, Rebecca Donahue, Christina Friel and Mary Beth Sudbay "Nurses Use of Information Technology: A Regional Survey", Computers, Informatics and Nursing, November/December 2007.
  • Gary Gaumer, Eric Gemmen "Chiropractic Users and Nonusers: Differences in Use, Attitudes, and Willingness to Use Non-Medical Doctors for Primary Care"., Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Vol 29, No 7, September, 2006
  • Gary Gaumer, "Satisfaction with Chiropractic Services" Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Vol 29, No. 6, July/August, 2006
  • Gary Gaumer, Annette Koran "Barriers to Expanding the Primary Care Roles for Alternative Care Professionals",. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Vol. 25, No. 7, September 2002
  • G. Gaumer, L. Goldstein, L. Teichman, B. Crawley, C. Joseph, and L. Reardon "Educating Medicare Beneficiaries: Lessons Learned from the National Medicare & You Education Program (with) Health Care Financing Review. Fall 2001.
  • Gary Gaumer, Alison Walker, Subrina Sue "New Taxonomy of Primary Care Activities.". Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (May, 2001).
  • Gary Gaumer, T. Moore, M. Friedman, and B. Bix. "How Ready are Health Plans for Medicare?" Effective Clinical Practice, Jan/Feb 1999; 2:11-16.
  • Gary Gaumer "Medicaid Nursing Facility Rate Adequacy in Massachusetts" Published Testimony; Massachusetts Rate Setting Commission, Boston, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002. Boston, MA.
  • A. Hassol, C. Irvin, G. Gaumer, et al "Rural Applications of Telemedicine,"., Telemedicine Journal, vol.3, no.3, 215-225, Fall 1997.
  • O. Grad, A. Hassol, G. Gaumer, C. Mintzer, D. Puskin, and J. Grigsby "Rural Teleradiology.". Administrative Radiology, April/May 1997, p. 28-33.
  • A. Hassol, Gary Gaumer, Carol Irvin, Jim Grigsby, Carol Mintzer, Dena Puskin "Rural Telemedicine Data\Image Transfer Methods and Purposes of Interactive Video Sessions: A Brief Review". Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, Vol.4, 1997, p. 36-37.
  • D.Staiger and G.Gaumer "Hospitals on the Brink Have Worse Outcomes", Medical Outcomes and Guidelines Alert, August 1, 1996, Vol. 4 No. 14.
  • G. Gaumer, A. Hassol, and J. Grigsby "Rural Telemedicine: A National Snapshot." G. Telemedicine Journal, Spring 1996, Vol. 2, No. 2, p 43-48.
  • R. Ozminkowski, G. Gaumer and M. Gabay "Hospital Wage and Price Controls: Lessons From the Economic Stabilization Program.". Health Care Financing Review, Winter 1994, Vol 16, No. 2.
  • A. Batavia, R. Ozminkowski, G. Gaumer and M. Gaba"Lessons for States in Inpatient Ratesetting Under the Boren Amendment.", y. Health Care Financing Review, Winter 1993, Vol. 15, Number 2.
  • G. Gaumer and J. Stavins."Medicare Use in the Last Ninety Days of Life." Journal of Health Services Research, Vol. 26, Number 6, February 1992.
  • R. Coulam and G. Gaumer "A Critical Appraisal of the Literature on the Impacts of PPS.". Health Care Financing Review, Annual Supplement, March 1991.
  • G. Gaumer, et. al "Effects of State Prospective Reimbursement Programs on Hospital Mortality.". Medical Care, Vol. 27, Number 7, July 1989.
  • G. Gaumer, E. Poggio, and C. Sennett "Medicare Elective Surgery Outcomes and State Prospective Reimbursement Programs." t. Health Care Financing Review, Annual Supplement, December 1987.
  • G. Gaumer, R. Glazier, and K. Cowen "A Review of PPS Research Coverage.". Health Affairs, October 1987.
  • G. Gaumer, H. Birnbaum, R. Burke, K. Ellingson-Otto, S. Franklin, and F. Pratter "Impact of the New York Long-Term Home Health Care Program.". Medical Care, Volume 24, Number 7, July 1986.
  • G. Gaumer "Regulating Health Professionals: A Review of Impact Evidence.". Milbank Memorial Fund Quarterly, Volume 62, No. 3, 1984.
  • S. Mennemeyer and G. Gaumer "Nursing Wages and the Value of Educational Credentials.". Journal of Human Resources, Vol. XVIII, No. 1, Winter 1983.
  • L. Wollstadt, G. Gaumer, E. Boyd and C. Bazoin."Resource Requirements for Teaching Continuity in Primary Care: Contrasts Between A Graduate And An Undergraduate Program." The Journal of Family Practice, Volume 9, December 1979.
  • G. Gaumer, J. Boland, and M. Sumner "Prospective Reimbursement in Connecticut." . Topics in Health Care Financing, Volume 6, Fall, 1979.
  • G. Gaumer and M. Sumner. "Prospective Reimbursement in Western Pennsylvania." Topics in Health Care Financing, Volume 6, Fall 1979.
  • J. Cowen, G. Gaumer and M. Broida "Applications of Input/Output Analysis in Regional Health Planning." . Social Science and Medicine, Fall 1978.
  • J. Cowen, G. Gaumer, M. Broida, and S. Foster "Feasibility of Input/Output Analysis for Regional Health Planning". Health Care Research in Illinois, Volume 1, November 1976.
  • G. Gaumer, M. Broida and S. Foster. "Input/Output Analysis for Community Health Care Planning." Proceedings, Illinois Economic Association, Northern Illinois University, 1976.
  • G. Gaumer "Input/Output Modeling of a Local Health Care Delivery System.". Proceedings, Midwest American Institute of Decision Sciences Conference, Detroit, May 1976.
  • G. Gaumer "Sex Discrimination and Job Tenure.". Industrial Relations, February 1975.

Chapters in Books

  • "Information and Communication Technologies for Improved Governance in Africa" in The Digital Divide in Developing Countries: Toward an Information Society in Africa, ed. Nancy Hafkin, (ISBN 90 5487 310 8 (Europe)) VUBPress, Free University Brussels in conjunction with SMIT (Studies on Media Information and Telecommunication) and UN-ECA (United Nations-Economic Commission for Africa), 2001.
  • "Evaluating the Status of Connectivity in the Community" in Leading the Way to Health Information Exchange in the Electronic World", ed. Elliot Stone, Massachusetts Health Data Consortium, Boston, 1999 (with Oren Grad).
  • "Information and Communication Technologies for Improved Governance" in Challenge to Africa of Globalization and the Information Age, African Development Forum, Addis Ababa August 1999 (with Bhavya Lal).
  • "Evaluating Managed Mental Health Care Programs." in Managed Mental Health, ed. Sol Feldman, D.P.A., Charles C. Thomas, Inc., 1991 (with Joseph Smith).
  • "Regulating Health Professionals." in Health Care Law and Policy: Readings, Notes and Questions, ed. Clark Havighurst, Foundation Press, 1988.
  • "Patient Outcome Differences in Non Profit and Investor Owned Hospitals." in For Profit Enterprise in Health Care: Issues, Evidence, Implications, ed. Bradford Gray, Institute of Medicine, 1986.

Government Published Monographs

  • Advances in the HNP Sector—A Review of IEGs 2009 HNP Sector Evaluation (client: World Bank/IEG) October 2013 (with Eric Bloom)
  • "Costs and Benefits of UNAIDS Prevention Programs for HIV/AIDS in Egypt", United Nations, UNAIDS, Cairo, April 30, 2012.
  • "Kosovo: Report on Management Accountability in the Health Sector", World Bank., 2007
  • "Emergency Preparedness Resource Inventory (EPRI)", U.S. DHHS, Washington, DC. AHRQ 05-0077-1, April 2005, (A. Hassol, A. Turel, C. Thomas)
  • "National Hospital Rate Setting Study. Volume VII. "Case Study of Prospective Reimbursement in Connecticut." (with M. Sumner and J. Boland), Health Care Financing Grants and Contracts Report Series, Health Care Financing Administration, March 1980.
  • "National Hospital Rate Setting Study. Volume IX. "Case Study of Prospective Reimbursement in Western Pennsylvania." (with M. Sumner). Health Care Financing Grants and Contracts Report Series, Health Care Financing Administration, March 1980.
  • Planning for Physician Requirements. (with Howard Birnbaum), DHEW publication (HRA) 79-12, December 1978.
  • Physician Requirements Forecasting: Need-Based Versus Demand-Based Methodologies. DHEW publication (HRA) 78-12, GMENAC staff Papers, March 1978.

Short Published Papers and Briefs (not Peer Reviewed)

Software Publishing

  • "Clinical Episode Grouper" licensed to Health Share Technologies (a WebMD company), West Acton, MA. Grouper for creating 100 categories of ambulatory patient episodes of treatment from data using ICD and CPT coding.
  • "PHR Health Resource Policy Planning and Simulation Model" for USAID. Policy simulation and forecasting model of health care resource requirements (beds, MDs, primary care financing needs) allowing user defined norms and comparisons to supply. Outputs include maps, reports, line graphs and data files. Written in MS Access.
  • "Primary Care Feedback Systems" for USAID primary care pilot sites. Simple MS Access/VB systems for capturing enrollment, encounter, cost and contractor payment transactions with user friendly feedback interface to promote comparative analysis and quality improvement activities. Systems Implemented in Jordan, Egypt, Albania, and Armenia.
  • "USisUS Customer feedback web site" for a private donor to Simmons College. Developed a web site intended for soliciting customer feedback, and for allowing other customers to review that feedback. The target audience was poor people who utilize publicly provided health care services (government hospitals and community clinics). Site developed, and evaluated using focus group users and commentary.

Reports

  • "Evaluation of HIV Prevention and Harm Reduction in Egypt," Drosos Foundation, 2016.
  • "A Training Strategy for Implementing Social Health Insurance and other Health Reforms in Kosovo," Ministry of Health Kosovo, 2014.
  • "Capacity Building Needs and Training Plan for Reform in Kosovo," Ministry of Health Kosovo, 2014.
  • "Costs of Producing Effective Contraception in Poor Countries," Pathfinder International, 2014.
  • "Advances in the Health, Nutrition, and Population Sector—a Review of IEG's 2009 Health, Nutrition, and Population Sector Evaluation," Worldbank IEG, 2014.
  • "Implementing Health Reform in Kosovo," World Bank Concept Note, 2013.

Grants

  • Racial and Gender Diversity in Hospital Management: Implications on Outcomes, President's Fund for Faculty Excellence, 2015.

Research/Creative Activities

Racial and Gender Discrimination in Hospital Senior Management

Professor of Practice Robert Coulam and Associate Professor Gary Gaumer continue their long-standing econometric research on inequity in management opportunities in U.S. hospitals, using data from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). In 2009, they published an initial paper on racial inequity in hospital management. With additional funding support from Simmons they are now able to study discrimination using new EEOC data that reports gender and race for all hospital managers and senior managers.

Learn more about Racial and Gender Discrimination in Hospital Senior Management

Consulting Work

Dr. Gaumer does consulting for international donor organizations to advise governments about ways to improve the performance of their health system. Recent clients have included UNAIDS, USAID, DFID (British), World Bank, among others. For these clients he does incentive program design work, pilot program evaluation, workshops on international best practices, and design of simple primary care information systems. In the last couple of years, Dr. Gaumer has worked in Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, Kosovo, and China.