Zirui Song

Biographic Data

ID	5547025
NAME	Zirui Song
GIVEN NAMES	Zirui
FAMILY NAME	Song
SIGNATURE	SONG Z
AFFILIATIONS	Harvard University
ORCID	0000-0002-1042-1162
VERIFIED	Yes
TOTAL WORKS	22
TOTAL CITATIONS	2
WORKS AS AUTHOR	22
WORKS AS EDITOR	0
FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR	2010
LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR	2025
H-INDEX	1

Back to the Future of Primary Care
Open AccessSandro Galea, Zirui SongARTICLEJAMA Health Forum2025
Prospects for Artificial Intelligence in Health Policy and Practice
Open AccessJohn Z Ayanian, Zirui SongARTICLEJAMA Health Forum2025
State Investments in Primary Care—5 Early Leaders of a Potential Policy Trend
Open AccessSarah Hart Brown, Dru Ricci et al.ARTICLEJAMA Health Forum2025
This Viewpoint summarizes the progress of 5 US states in their efforts to invest in primary care, focusing on key similarities and differences to help inform ongoing policy discussions in other states
Financial Health After Private Equity Hospitals Are Sold
Open AccessSneha Kannan, Zirui SongARTICLEJAMA Health Forum2025
This cohort study evaluates early evidence of hospital outcomes after secondary private equity acquisitions
Response to “How Should We Assess Quality of Health Care Services in Organizations Owned by Private Equity Firms?”
Open AccessJoseph Dov Bruch, Sneha Kannan et al.ARTICLEThe AMA Journal of Ethic2025
In "How Should We Assess Quality of Health Care Services in Organizations
The New Role of Private Investment in Health Care Delivery
Open AccessDonald Cutler, David M Cutler et al.ARTICLEJAMA Health Forum2024
This JAMA Forum discusses the good and bad of innovation in health care delivery, tax policy, an escrow account for failure, and state monitoring
Health Care Utilization among Homeless-Experienced Adults Who Were Seen by a Mobile Addiction Health Clinic in Boston, Massachusetts
Danielle R Fine, Andrea Joyce et al.ARTICLESubstance Use & Misuse2023
Background: Mobile health clinics improve access to care for marginalized individuals who are disengaged from the healthcare system. This study evaluated the association between a mobile addiction health clinic and health care utilization among people experiencing homelessness. Methods: Using Medicaid claims data, we evaluated adults who were seen by a mobile addiction health clinic in Boston, Massachusetts from 1/16/18–1/15/19 relative to a prop…
Association of Private Equity Acquisition of Physician Practices With Changes in Health Care Spending and Utilization
Open AccessYashaswini Singh, Zirui Song et al.ARTICLEJAMA Health Forum2022
In this difference-in-differences study, private equity acquisition of physician practices in dermatology, gastroenterology, and ophthalmology were associated with differential increases in allowed amount and charges per claim, volume of encounters, and new patients seen, as well as some changes in billing and coding
Medicare Advantage Financing and Quality in Puerto Rico vs the 50 US States and Washington, DC
Open AccessThomas Roberts, Thomas M Roberts et al.ARTICLEJAMA Health Forum2022
This cohort study found that after implementation of the ACA, federal benchmark payment amounts decreased in Puerto Rico compared with the US mainland. Responses by MA plans in Puerto Rico, including increased quality bonus payments and risk scores, offset this payment reduction, although actual plan payments in Puerto Rico were lower than those in the US mainland
Geographic Variation in Private Equity Penetration Across Select Office-Based Physician Specialties in the US
Open AccessYashaswini Singh, Jane M Zhu et al.ARTICLEJAMA Health Forum2022
This cross-sectional study examines geographic variations in private equity firm acquisitions of US physician practices across 6 specialties
Physician Practice Pattern Variations in Common Clinical Scenarios Within 5 US Metropolitan Areas
Open AccessZirui Song, Sneha Kannan et al.ARTICLEJAMA Health Forum2022
In this cross-sectional study of 5 US metropolitan areas, sizeable physician-level practice variations were found across common clinical scenarios and specialties. Understanding the sources of these variations may inform efforts to improve the value of care
Changes in Patient Experiences and Assessment of Gaming Among Large Clinician Practices in Precursors of the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System
Open AccessEric T Roberts, Zirui Song et al.ARTICLEJAMA Health Forum2021
In this study of US physician practices that participated in precursors of the MIPS, large practices were found to select measures on which they were already performing well for a pay-for-performance program, consistent with gaming. However, mandating public reporting was not associated with improved patient experiences. These findings support recommendations to end optional measures in the MIPS but also suggest that public reporting on mandated …
Making the Affordable Care Act Marketplace More Affordable
Open AccessZirui SongARTICLEJAMA Health Forum2021
As the Biden administration aims to expand health insurance coverage, making insurance plans in the US Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace more affordable is a key priority
Covid-19 and Private Equity Investment in Health Care Delivery
Open AccessJoseph Dov Bruch, Joseph Bruch et al.ARTICLEJAMA Health Forum2021
Private equity acquisitions of health care companies
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Hospitalization Outcomes Among Medicare Beneficiaries During the Covid-19 Pandemic
Open AccessZirui Song, Xiaoran Zhang et al.ARTICLEJAMA Health Forum2021
In this cohort study, racial and ethnic disparities in mortality were evident among COVID-19 hospitalizations and widened among non-COVID-19 hospitalizations, motivating greater attention to health equity
Expanding Health Insurance through a Public Option—Choices and Trade-offs
Open AccessSuhas Gondi, Zirui SongARTICLEJAMA Health Forum2021
Nearly 29 million people in the US lacked health insurance before the COVID-19 pandemic began
Mortality Before and After Border Wall Construction Along the US–Mexico Border, 1990–2017
Joseph Dov Bruch, Ozlem Barin et al.ARTICLEAmerican Journal of Public Health2021Cited by: 2References: 9
Objectives. To evaluate changes in mortality in US counties along the US–Mexico border in which there was substantial new border wall construction after the Secure Fence Act of 2006 relative to border counties in which there was no such border wall construction. Methods. Using complete 1990 to 2017 mortality microdata and a quasi-experimental difference-in-differences design, we evaluated changes in overall (all-cause) mortality, mortality from d…
Reconsidering Reimbursement for Medical Interpreters in the Era of Covid-19
Open AccessShivani A Shah, David Velásquez et al.ARTICLEJAMA Health Forum2020
As COVID-19 exerts financial strain on clinicians nationwide, its impact on health equity is a pressing concern. In recent surveys, 57% of primary care providers reported their payments were insufficient to cover costs, and 20% reported at least temporarily closing their practice, along with layoffs and furloughs. As providers are forced to cut costs, what services are cut-and whom would be most affected by such cuts-could exacerbate existing dis…
Improving Affordability and Equity in Medicare Advantage
Open AccessZirui Song, Sanjay BasuARTICLEINQUIRY The Journal of Health…2019
Facing projected growth in federal deficits, policymakers may increasingly look to Medicare for opportunities to slow spending. Medicare Advantage, which has grown to over one-third of the Medicare population, now costs the federal government over $230 billion a year. Competition in the program is weak in many parts of the country and federal subsidies are distributed unevenly to beneficiaries who are enrolled. This article offers a potential app…
Implications of Workforce and Financing Changes for Primary Care Practice Utilization, Revenue, and Cost
Sanjay Basu, Bruce E Landon et al.ARTICLEMedical Care2015References: 7
BACKGROUND: Primary care practice transformations require tools for policymakers and practice managers to understand the financial implications of workforce and reimbursement changes. OBJECTIVE: To create a simulation model to understand how practice utilization, revenues, and expenses may change in the context of workforce and financing changes. RESEARCH DESIGN: We created a simulation model estimating clinic-level utilization, revenues, and exp…
Using propensity scores in difference-in-differences models to estimate the effects of a policy change
Open AccessElizabeth A Stuart, Haiden A Huskamp et al.ARTICLEHealth Services and Outcomes…2014
Workplace Wellness Programs Can Generate Savings
Katherine Baicker, Donald Cutler et al.ARTICLEHealth Affairs2010
Amid soaring health spending, there is growing interest in workplace disease prevention and wellness programs to improve health and lower costs. In a critical meta-analysis of the literature on costs and savings associated with such programs, we found that medical costs fall by about $3.27 for every dollar spent on wellness programs and that absenteeism costs fall by about $2.73 for every dollar spent. Although further exploration of the mechanis…

Workplace Wellness Programs Can Generate Savings
Katherine Baicker, Donald Cutler et al.ARTICLEHealth Affairs2010
Amid soaring health spending, there is growing interest in workplace disease prevention and wellness programs to improve health and lower costs. In a critical meta-analysis of the literature on costs and savings associated with such programs, we found that medical costs fall by about $3.27 for every dollar spent on wellness programs and that absenteeism costs fall by about $2.73 for every dollar spent. Although further exploration of the mechanis…
Using propensity scores in difference-in-differences models to estimate the effects of a policy change
Open AccessElizabeth A Stuart, Haiden A Huskamp et al.ARTICLEHealth Services and Outcomes…2014
Implications of Workforce and Financing Changes for Primary Care Practice Utilization, Revenue, and Cost
Sanjay Basu, Bruce E Landon et al.ARTICLEMedical Care2015References: 7
BACKGROUND: Primary care practice transformations require tools for policymakers and practice managers to understand the financial implications of workforce and reimbursement changes. OBJECTIVE: To create a simulation model to understand how practice utilization, revenues, and expenses may change in the context of workforce and financing changes. RESEARCH DESIGN: We created a simulation model estimating clinic-level utilization, revenues, and exp…
Improving Affordability and Equity in Medicare Advantage
Open AccessZirui Song, Sanjay BasuARTICLEINQUIRY The Journal of Health…2019
Facing projected growth in federal deficits, policymakers may increasingly look to Medicare for opportunities to slow spending. Medicare Advantage, which has grown to over one-third of the Medicare population, now costs the federal government over $230 billion a year. Competition in the program is weak in many parts of the country and federal subsidies are distributed unevenly to beneficiaries who are enrolled. This article offers a potential app…
Reconsidering Reimbursement for Medical Interpreters in the Era of Covid-19
Open AccessShivani A Shah, David Velásquez et al.ARTICLEJAMA Health Forum2020
As COVID-19 exerts financial strain on clinicians nationwide, its impact on health equity is a pressing concern. In recent surveys, 57% of primary care providers reported their payments were insufficient to cover costs, and 20% reported at least temporarily closing their practice, along with layoffs and furloughs. As providers are forced to cut costs, what services are cut-and whom would be most affected by such cuts-could exacerbate existing dis…
Changes in Patient Experiences and Assessment of Gaming Among Large Clinician Practices in Precursors of the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System
Open AccessEric T Roberts, Zirui Song et al.ARTICLEJAMA Health Forum2021
In this study of US physician practices that participated in precursors of the MIPS, large practices were found to select measures on which they were already performing well for a pay-for-performance program, consistent with gaming. However, mandating public reporting was not associated with improved patient experiences. These findings support recommendations to end optional measures in the MIPS but also suggest that public reporting on mandated …
Making the Affordable Care Act Marketplace More Affordable
Open AccessZirui SongARTICLEJAMA Health Forum2021
As the Biden administration aims to expand health insurance coverage, making insurance plans in the US Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace more affordable is a key priority
Covid-19 and Private Equity Investment in Health Care Delivery
Open AccessJoseph Dov Bruch, Joseph Bruch et al.ARTICLEJAMA Health Forum2021
Private equity acquisitions of health care companies
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Hospitalization Outcomes Among Medicare Beneficiaries During the Covid-19 Pandemic
Open AccessZirui Song, Xiaoran Zhang et al.ARTICLEJAMA Health Forum2021
In this cohort study, racial and ethnic disparities in mortality were evident among COVID-19 hospitalizations and widened among non-COVID-19 hospitalizations, motivating greater attention to health equity
Expanding Health Insurance through a Public Option—Choices and Trade-offs
Open AccessSuhas Gondi, Zirui SongARTICLEJAMA Health Forum2021
Nearly 29 million people in the US lacked health insurance before the COVID-19 pandemic began
Mortality Before and After Border Wall Construction Along the US–Mexico Border, 1990–2017
Joseph Dov Bruch, Ozlem Barin et al.ARTICLEAmerican Journal of Public Health2021Cited by: 2References: 9
Objectives. To evaluate changes in mortality in US counties along the US–Mexico border in which there was substantial new border wall construction after the Secure Fence Act of 2006 relative to border counties in which there was no such border wall construction. Methods. Using complete 1990 to 2017 mortality microdata and a quasi-experimental difference-in-differences design, we evaluated changes in overall (all-cause) mortality, mortality from d…
Association of Private Equity Acquisition of Physician Practices With Changes in Health Care Spending and Utilization
Open AccessYashaswini Singh, Zirui Song et al.ARTICLEJAMA Health Forum2022
In this difference-in-differences study, private equity acquisition of physician practices in dermatology, gastroenterology, and ophthalmology were associated with differential increases in allowed amount and charges per claim, volume of encounters, and new patients seen, as well as some changes in billing and coding
Medicare Advantage Financing and Quality in Puerto Rico vs the 50 US States and Washington, DC
Open AccessThomas Roberts, Thomas M Roberts et al.ARTICLEJAMA Health Forum2022
This cohort study found that after implementation of the ACA, federal benchmark payment amounts decreased in Puerto Rico compared with the US mainland. Responses by MA plans in Puerto Rico, including increased quality bonus payments and risk scores, offset this payment reduction, although actual plan payments in Puerto Rico were lower than those in the US mainland
Geographic Variation in Private Equity Penetration Across Select Office-Based Physician Specialties in the US
Open AccessYashaswini Singh, Jane M Zhu et al.ARTICLEJAMA Health Forum2022
This cross-sectional study examines geographic variations in private equity firm acquisitions of US physician practices across 6 specialties
Physician Practice Pattern Variations in Common Clinical Scenarios Within 5 US Metropolitan Areas
Open AccessZirui Song, Sneha Kannan et al.ARTICLEJAMA Health Forum2022
In this cross-sectional study of 5 US metropolitan areas, sizeable physician-level practice variations were found across common clinical scenarios and specialties. Understanding the sources of these variations may inform efforts to improve the value of care
Health Care Utilization among Homeless-Experienced Adults Who Were Seen by a Mobile Addiction Health Clinic in Boston, Massachusetts
Danielle R Fine, Andrea Joyce et al.ARTICLESubstance Use & Misuse2023
Background: Mobile health clinics improve access to care for marginalized individuals who are disengaged from the healthcare system. This study evaluated the association between a mobile addiction health clinic and health care utilization among people experiencing homelessness. Methods: Using Medicaid claims data, we evaluated adults who were seen by a mobile addiction health clinic in Boston, Massachusetts from 1/16/18–1/15/19 relative to a prop…
The New Role of Private Investment in Health Care Delivery
Open AccessDonald Cutler, David M Cutler et al.ARTICLEJAMA Health Forum2024
This JAMA Forum discusses the good and bad of innovation in health care delivery, tax policy, an escrow account for failure, and state monitoring
Back to the Future of Primary Care
Open AccessSandro Galea, Zirui SongARTICLEJAMA Health Forum2025
Prospects for Artificial Intelligence in Health Policy and Practice
Open AccessJohn Z Ayanian, Zirui SongARTICLEJAMA Health Forum2025
State Investments in Primary Care—5 Early Leaders of a Potential Policy Trend
Open AccessSarah Hart Brown, Dru Ricci et al.ARTICLEJAMA Health Forum2025
This Viewpoint summarizes the progress of 5 US states in their efforts to invest in primary care, focusing on key similarities and differences to help inform ongoing policy discussions in other states
Financial Health After Private Equity Hospitals Are Sold
Open AccessSneha Kannan, Zirui SongARTICLEJAMA Health Forum2025
This cohort study evaluates early evidence of hospital outcomes after secondary private equity acquisitions
Response to “How Should We Assess Quality of Health Care Services in Organizations Owned by Private Equity Firms?”
Open AccessJoseph Dov Bruch, Sneha Kannan et al.ARTICLEThe AMA Journal of Ethic2025
In "How Should We Assess Quality of Health Care Services in Organizations