Katherine M. Harris

Photo of Katherine Harris

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Senior Economist; Professor, Pardee RAND Graduate School
Washington Office

Education

Ph.D., Institute for Health Services Research and Policy, University of Minnesota School of Public Health; M.A. in applied economics, B.A. in economics, The University of Michigan

Overview

Biography

Katherine Harris is a senior economist at the RAND Corporation and a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. Her areas of study include health economics and health services research. She has led numerous studies on consumer demand for health care. Her most recent work focuses on the factors influencing consumers' decision to be vaccinated against influenza. Harris's research has been widely disseminated as reports, briefings, and journal articles among the policy community, the media, and the academic community. Harris received her B.A. from the University of Michigan and her Ph.D. from the Institute for Health Services Research and Policy, University of Minnesota School of Public Health.

Previous Positions

Senior Service Fellow, Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Recent Projects

  • Consumers' health care consumption choices
  • Vaccine access and financing
  • Treatment of substance use disorders
  • Pharmacy benefit management
  • Measurement of patient experiences with health care services

Selected Publications

Jürgen Maurer, Katherine M. Harris, "Contact and communication with healthcare providers regarding influenza vaccination during the 2009-2010 H1N1 pandemic," Preventive Medicine, 2011

Katherine M. Harris, Jürgen Maurer, Arthur Kellermann, "Influenza vaccine--safe, effective, and mistrusted," New England Journal of Medicine, 363(23):2183-5, 2010

Katherine Harris and Jürgen Maurer, "Do Adult Patients Who Intend to Be Vaccinated Against Seasonal Influenza Follow Through?" Journal of General Internal Medicine, 24(12):1311-3, 2009

Mark J. Edlund and Katherine M. Harris, "Perceived Effectiveness of Medications Among Mental Health Service Users With and Without Alcohol Dependence," Psychiatric Services, 57(5), 2006

Katherine M. Harris et al., "The Effects of State Parity Laws on the Use of Mental Health Care," Medical Care, 44(6), 2006

Katherine M. Harris et al., "Racial and Ethnic Differences in the Mental Health Problems and Use of Mental Health Care," Medical Care, 43(8), 2005

Katherine M. Harris and Mark J. Edlund, "Use of Mental Health Care and Substance Abuse Treatment Among Adults With Co-occurring Disorders," Psychiatric Services, 56(8), 2005

Katherine M. Harris, "How Do Patients Choose Physicians? Evidence from a National Survey of Enrollees in Employment-Related Health Plans," Health Services Research, 38(2), 2003

Economics

Recent Projects

  • Review and evaluation of the VA Enrollee Health Care Projection model
  • Models and strategies for the promotion of existing and emerging adult immunization technology
  • Development of a framework for measuring the strategic value of health information technology to the Military Health Service

Selected Publications

Katherine M. Harris, Beth Ann Griffin, Daniel F. McCaffery, Andrew R. Morral, "Inconsistencies in self-reported drug use by adolescents in substance abuse treatment: implications for outcome and performance measurements.," Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 34(3):347-55, 2008

Katherine M. Harris, James P. Galasso, Christine Eibner, Review and Evaluation of the VA Enrollee Health Care Projection Model, RAND Coproration (MG-596-DVA), 2008

Katherine M. Harris, Mark J. Edlund, Sharon Larson, "Religious Participation and the Use of Mental Health Care," Health Services Research, 41(2):395-410, 2006

Katherine M. Harris, Christopher Carpenter, and Yuhua Bao, "The Effect of State Parity Legislation on the Use of Mental Health Care by the Privately Insured," Medical Care, 44(6):499-505, 2006

Katherine M. Harris, Mark J. Edlund, "Self-Medication of Mental Health Problems: Evidence from a National Survey," Health Services Research, 40(1):117-134, 2005

Katherine M. Harris and Roland Sturm, "Generosity of Alcohol Treatment Services and Selective Enrollment in Health Care Plans," Inquiry, 39(4):413-430, 2003

Publications