(Jessica) Ying Cao

Dr. Jessica Cao is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Population Health Sciences at the University of Wisconsin – Madison’s School of Medicine and Public Health. Dr. Cao previously served as an Assistant Professor of Health Services Policy and Practice in the Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health at the State University of New York (SUNY) – Buffalo. She holds a PhD in Applied Economics and Management from Cornell University, where she studied Applied Microeconomics, Behavioral Economics, Judgement and Decision-Making.

Dr. Cao’s research interests are in Health Economics, Health Policy and Outcomes Research. She is particularly interested in understanding individuals’ and healthcare providers’ decision-making and their responses to alternative policy, market and institutional settings. Her research focuses on how the individuals’ and care providers’ strategic and/or behavioral responses to the healthcare system and reforms lead to changes in health services utilization, care delivery, health outcomes, as well as healthcare costs and efficiencies. Dr. Cao’s research aims to quantify the differentiated policy effects on care outcomes among subpopulations, identify barriers to high-quality care and health equity, develop and assess novel interventions that improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the healthcare system.

Dr. Cao’s current research projects include an examination of the role of Medicare insurance type (Traditional Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage) and its interactions with market structures on post-acute care delivery in the inpatient rehabilitation facilities, an investigation of the impacts of historical changes in the Prospective Payment Systems on inpatient rehabilitation treatment intensity and care outcomes, and an development and assessment of case management programs among Medicare beneficiaries with multiple chronic conditions.

Dr. Cao also works on behavioral and experimental design to elicit consumer preferences towards pre- and post-market medical products and services that have multiple price and non-price attributes. Applications include healthy dietary choices, marijuana product uses, preventive care engagement, and telemedicine adoption, etc.

Courses Taught
PopHlth 795 Introduction to Population Health Sciences
PopHlth 709 Translational and Clinical Outcomes Research in Health and Healthcare
(Online MS program of Clinical Health and Informatics)

Affiliations/Associations
Academy Health
American Society of Health Economists
Society for Medical Decision Making
UW Center for Demography of Health and Aging

Curriculum Vitae
Jessica Cao CV