Tanvi Rao
Principal Research Associate
Contact
TanviRao@westat.comOverview
Tanvi Rao, PhD, is an economist and Principal Research Associate for Healthcare Quality with 10 years of experience in healthcare policy evaluation and implementation, specializing in Medicare and Medicaid, value-based care, and healthcare payment reform.
In the roles of project director and task lead, Rao has directed mixed-methods evaluations and analyses for the CMS, Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), and state health agencies, including initiatives focused on alternative payment models, delivery system reform, and quality measurement.
Rao specializes in deploying advanced econometric and causal inference techniques, such as randomization, matching, difference in differences, and cost-benefit analysis, to evaluate complex healthcare programs. She often uses claims data to construct validated outcome metrics. Rao regularly collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to engage a range of stakeholders, from federal and state officials to healthcare providers. She frequently authors evaluation reports and peer-reviewed publications.
Education
- PhD, Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University
- MS, Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University
- BA (with honors), Economics, University of Delhi, India