C. Ross Anthony

Director, RAND Israeli-Palestinian Initiative; Adjunct Economist

Off Site Office

Education

Ph.D. in economics, University of Pennsylvania; M.A. in economics, University of Pennsylvania; M.A. in economic history, University of Pennsylvania; B.A. in history, Williams College

One Page Bio

Media Resources

This researcher is available for interviews.

To arrange an interview, contact the RAND Office of Media Relations at (310) 451-6913, or email media@rand.org.

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Overview

C. Ross Anthony is a adjunct economist at the RAND Corporation and director of RAND's Israeli-Palestinian Initiative. He specializes in global health, financing, and military health. Anthony led RAND Health's Global Health Initiative (2001–2013) and its Military Health Policy Research program (1996–2002). He currently leads a project on the alternative solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. He has led projects developing health care strategies for Qatar; analyzing construction of a successful, independent Palestinian state; health and nation building; health reform in the Kurdish Region of northern Iraq, and causes of Gulf War Illnesses. Anthony has more than 30 years of health care experience at all levels of government. He served on the U.S. Presidential Commission on Improving Health Care Delivery for Our Nation's Veterans and was a member of the WHO Health Systems Knowledge Network of the Commission on the Social Determinants of Health. He served as vice president and director of the International Health Services Group at the International Planning and Analysis Corporation; director of the Office of Development Resources for USAID Europe, overseeing six divisions responsible for program design of 15 Eastern European countries, and health programs in the former Soviet Union; and associate administrator for program development at the Health Care Financing Administration (now CMS), responsible for regulatory policy development and research for Medicare and Medicaid. He was also a Health Policy Alternatives partner; taught economics at the University of Oregon; and was a Peace Corps volunteer in Nepal. Anthony graduated from Williams College and earned his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Pennsylvania.

Research Focus

Previous Positions

Vice President and Director of the International Health Services Group, International Planning and Analysis Center; Director, Office of Development Resources for Europe, United States Agency for International Development (USAID); Associate Administrator, Program Development, Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA now CMS); Partner, Health Policy Alternatives; Assistant Professor of Economics, University of Oregon, Eugene; Director of the Dhorpatan Health Project, Dhorpatan, Nepal; Peace Corps Volunteer, Nepal 17, Illam, Nepal

Recent Projects

Cost of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Health reform in the Kurdish Region of Iraq
Creating a successful Palestinian state
Developing a national health strategy for Qatar
U.S. presidential task force to improve health care delivery for our nation's veterans

Selected Publications

C. Ross Anthony and Nicole Lurie, "Global Health Services Research: Challenging the Future," Health Services Research, 39(6)

Anthony, C. Ross, Daniel Egel, Charles P. Ries, Craig A. Bond, Andrew Liepman, Jeffrey Martini, Steven Simon, Shira Efron, Bradley D. Stein, Lynsay Ayer, and Mary E. Vaiana, The Costs of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, RAND Corporation (RR-740-1-DCR), 2015

Anthony, C. Ross, Melinda Moore, Lee H. Hilborne, and Andrew W. Mulcahy, Health Sector Reform in the Kurdistan Region — Iraq: Financing Reform, Primary Care, and Patient Safety, RAND Corporation (RR-490-1-KRG), 2014

Moore, Melinda, C. Ross Anthony, Yee-Wei Lim, Spencer S. Jones, Adrian Overton, and Joanne K. Yoong, The Future of Health Care in the Kurdistan Region — Iraq: Toward an Effective, High-Quality System with an Emphasis on Primary Care (Arabic-language version), RAND Corporation (MG-1148z1-1), 2014

Jones, Seth G., Lee H. Hilborne, C. Ross Anthony, Lois M. Davis, Federico Girosi, Cheryl Benard, Rachel M. Swanger, Anita Datar Garten, and Anga R. Timilsina, Securing Health: Lessons from Nation-Building Missions, RAND Corporation (MG-321), 2006

Suisman, Doug, Steven Simon, Glenn Robinson, C. Ross Anthony, and Michael Schoenbaum, The Arc: A Formal Structure for a Palestinian State, RAND Corporation (MG-327), 2005

Palestinian State Study Team, The RAND, Building a Successful Palestinian State, RAND Corporation (MG-146), 2005

Schoenbaum, Michael, Barbara O. Wynn, Terri Tanielian, Katherine M. Harris, Renee Labor, and C. Ross Anthony, Health Benefits for Medicare-Eligible Military Retirees: Rationalizing TRICARE for Life, RAND Corporation (TR-118), 2004

Honors & Awards

President's Award (research on Qatar Health Care reform and research to establish a successful Palestinian state), 2005, RAND
President's Award (for work on Gulf War Illness), 2001, RAND
Best Dissertation in Economics 1979, University of Pennsylvania

Languages

Nepali spoken

Recent Media Appearances

Interviews: CNBC; Detroit Free Press; Los Angeles Times; The Media Line, MidEast News Source; New York Times; Reuters; Washington Post

Commentary: Baltimore Sun; International Herald Tribune; Modern Healthcare; Newsweek

Commentary

Palestinian Territories

Development with No Political Framework Is a Car Without an Engine
Pushing an economic development plan for the Middle East without addressing the political issues specific to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is like trying to sell a car without an engine. Why? Because an economic strategy that doesn't address core political issues would have no governing entity to put it into effect.
Jul 9, 2019
RealClearWorld
Low-Intensity Conflict

War or Peace? Putting a Price on the Israeli-Palestinian Impasse
Today, more than 90 percent of Israelis and Palestinians were born after 1948 and have known nothing other than some version of the impasse. Both sides could be better off with a stable two-state solution. Prolonging the impasse for another generation would have real costs.
Jun 9, 2015
Newsweek
Gulf War Illness

Gulf War Illness: Still Looking for Answers
Bernard Rostker and Ross Anthony, RAND senior economists with expertise on Gulf War Illness (GWI), discuss a study by scientists at Georgetown University Medical Center that suggests the symptoms of GWI are biological in nature, and a GWI study RAND conducted more than a decade ago.
Jul 8, 2013
Palestinian Territories

Spending Aid to Palestinians Wisely
Spending Aid to Palestinians Wisely in the International Herald Tribune
Aug 16, 2007
International Herald Tribune
Planning for Palestine
Published commentary by RAND staff.
May 22, 2005
Baltimore Sun
U.S. Foreign Policy Must Include the Eradication of Dangerous Diseases
commentaries by RAND Staff: insightful commentaries on current events, published in newspapers, magazines and journals worldwide.
Jul 14, 2003
Modern Healthcare

Publications

Report
Alternatives in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
RAND researchers used a novel focus group approach to assess which, if any, of five possible alternative futures in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would be supported by Israelis and Palestinians.
Feb 10, 2021
Report
Health Sector Reform in the Kurdistan Region — Iraq: Primary Care Management Information System, Physician Dual Practice Finance Reform, and Quality of Care Training (Kurdish-language version)
Since 2010, RAND has worked with the Kurdistan Regional Government to improve its health care system. This phase focused on a primary care management information system, physician dual practice reform, and patient safety training.
Apr 19, 2018
Report
Health Sector Reform in the Kurdistan Region — Iraq: Primary Care Management Information System, Physician Dual Practice Finance Reform, and Quality of Care Training (Arabic-language version)
Since 2010, RAND has worked with the Kurdistan Regional Government to improve its health care system. This phase focused on a primary care management information system, physician dual practice reform, and patient safety training.
Mar 14, 2018
Research Brief
Strengthening Health Care in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq
Since 2010, RAND researchers have worked with the Kurdistan Regional Government to improve its health care system. This phase focused on a primary care management information system, physician dual practice reform, and patient safety training.
Oct 25, 2017
Report
Health Sector Reform in the Kurdistan Region — Iraq: Primary Care Management Information System, Physician Dual Practice Finance Reform, and Quality of Care Training
Since 2010, RAND has worked with the Kurdistan Regional Government to improve its health care system. This phase focused on a primary care management information system, physician dual practice reform, and patient safety training.
Oct 5, 2017
Report
Building the Future: Summary of Four Studies to Develop the Private Sector, Education, Health Care, and Data for Decisionmaking for the Kurdistan Region — Iraq
This report summarizes four studies intended to help the Kurdistan Regional Government expand access to good education and health care, increase private-sector development, and design a data-collection system to support high-priority policies.
Mar 17, 2016
Report
The Costs of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Executive Summary: (Arabic translation)
An Arabic translation of a study‘s executive summary estimating the net costs and benefits if the long-standing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians follows its current trajectory over the next ten years, relative to five other trajectories.
Nov 23, 2015
Report
The Costs of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Executive Summary: (Hebrew translation)
A Hebrew translation of an executive summary of a study estimating the net costs and benefits if the long-standing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians follows its current trajectory over the next ten years, relative to five other trajectories.
Nov 23, 2015
Report
The Costs of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
This study estimates the net costs and benefits if the long-standing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians follows its current trajectory over the next ten years, relative to five other possible trajectories that the conflict could take.
Sep 8, 2015
Report
The Costs of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Executive Summary
This executive summary shares findings from a study that estimates the net costs and benefits if the long-standing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians follows its current trajectory over the next ten years, relative to five other trajectories.
Jun 18, 2015
Tool
Costs of the Conflict Calculator
The RAND Costs of Conflict study estimates the net costs and benefits of five alternative trajectories -- a two-state solution, coordinated unilateral withdrawal, uncoordinated unilateral withdrawal, nonviolent resistance, and violent uprising.
Jun 8, 2015
Report
Making an Impact in the Kurdistan Region — Iraq: Summary of Four Studies to Assess the Present and Future Labor Market, Improve Technical Vocational Education and Training, Reform the Health Sector, and Build Data Collection Capacity
This executive summary describes key results from four studies carried out by the RAND Corporation for the Kurdistan Regional Government. These studies aim to improve the economic and social development of the Kurdistan Region -- Iraq.
Feb 3, 2015
Report
Health Sector Reform in the Kurdistan Region — Iraq: Financing Reform, Primary Care, and Patient Safety (Arabic-language version)
This report summarizes work on health financing, primary care, and quality and patient safety in Kurdistan: policy options, plans to achieve policy objectives, and implementation of a new management information system.
Dec 1, 2014
Report
Health Sector Reform in the Kurdistan Region — Iraq: Financing Reform, Primary Care, and Patient Safety (Kurdish-language version)
This report summarizes work on health financing, primary care, and quality and patient safety in Kurdistan: policy options, plans to achieve policy objectives, and implementation of a new management information system.
Dec 1, 2014
Report
Health Sector Reform in the Kurdistan Region — Iraq: Financing Reform, Primary Care, and Patient Safety
This report summarizes work on health financing, primary care, and quality and patient safety in Kurdistan: policy options, plans to achieve policy objectives, and implementation of a new management information system.
Dec 1, 2014
Report
The Future of Health Care in the Kurdistan Region — Iraq: Toward an Effective, High-Quality System with an Emphasis on Primary Care (Arabic-language version)
Examines the health care system in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, with an emphasis on primary care, and discusses what strategies can be pursued to move toward a more effective and higher-quality health care system.
May 19, 2014
Report
The Future of Health Care in the Kurdistan Region — Iraq: Toward an Effective, High-Quality System with an Emphasis on Primary Care (Kurdish-language version)
Examines the health care system in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, with an emphasis on primary care, and discusses what strategies can be pursued to move toward a more effective and higher-quality health care system.
Apr 28, 2014
Report
The Future of Health Care in the Kurdistan Region — Iraq: Toward an Effective, High-Quality System with an Emphasis on Primary Care
Examines the health care system in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, with an emphasis on primary care, and discusses what strategies can be pursued to move toward a more effective and higher-quality health care system.
Apr 10, 2014
Report
Building the Future: Summary of Four Studies to Develop the Private Sector, Education, Health Care, and Data for Decisionmaking for the Kurdistan Region — Iraq (with Kurdish-language version)
This report summarizes four studies intended to help the Kurdistan Regional Government expand access to good education and health care, increase private-sector development, and design a data-collection system to support high-priority policies.
May 8, 2013
Report
Building the Future: Summary of Four Studies to Develop the Private Sector, Education, Health Care, and Data for Decisionmaking for the Kurdistan Region — Iraq (with Arabic-language version)
This report summarizes four studies intended to help the Kurdistan Regional Government expand access to good education and health care, increase private-sector development, and design a data-collection system to support high-priority policies.
May 8, 2013
Report
The Arc: A Formal Structure for a Palestinian State
An examination of options for strengthening infrastructure in a potential future independent Palestinian state.
May 19, 2011
Brochure
The RAND Palestine Initiative
A description of the Arc, RAND's proposal for a sweeping infrastructure corridor linking urban centers, within and between the West Bank and Gaza.
May 7, 2009
Research Brief
Health System Reconstruction and Nation-Building
This research brief examines past attempts to rebuild public health and health care delivery systems during nation-building efforts after U.S. military deployments intended to underpin the transition to peace, democracy, and economic stability.
Feb 26, 2007
Report
Securing Health: Lessons from Nation-Building Missions
Presents the results of a study that examined the success of international efforts to rebuild public health and health care delivery in seven cases: Germany and Japan immediately after World War II; Somalia, Haiti, and Kosovo in the 1990s; and Afghanistan
Mar 15, 2006
Research Brief
The Arc: A Formal Structure for a Palestinian State (Arabic Version)
This research brief describes work documented in The Arc: A Formal Structure for a Palestinian State (MG-327-GG).
Dec 1, 2005
Research Brief
The Arc: A Formal Structure for a Palestinian State
This research brief describes work documented in The Arc: A Formal Structure for a Palestinian State (MG-327-GG).
Nov 25, 2005
Research Brief
Building A Successful Palestinian State
This research brief describes work documented in Building a Successful Palestinian State (MG-146-DCR).
Nov 25, 2005
Research Brief
Examining Possible Causes of Gulf War Illness: RAND Policy Investigations and Reviews of the Scientific Literature
This research brief outlines assistance that RAND provided to the OSAGWI in investigating the health effects of eight areas of possible causes of illness: infectious diseases, pyridostigmine bromide, immunizations, wartime stress, chemical and biological warfare agents, oil well fires, depleted uranium, and pesticides.
Nov 25, 2005
Journal Article
Cross-cutting Themes: Health as Foreign Policy and the Role of Academic Health Centers
The authors discuss common themes of the Association of Academic Health Centers 6th Trilateral Conference, titled Health as an Instrument of Foreign Policy: Challenges for Academic Centers.
2005
Report
Health Benefits for Medicare-Eligible Military Retirees: Rationalizing TRICARE for Life
Examines TRICARE for Life’s potential benefits and costs for the Department of Defense, Medicare, beneficiaries, and taxpayers and summarizes issues and policy options for improving TFL in the future.
Oct 14, 2004
Journal Article
Global Health Services Research: Challenging the Future
Today health and global well-being are inextricably intertwined.
2004
Journal Article
The Healthcare Doctrine: U.S. Foreign Policy Must Include the Eradication of Dangerous Diseases
The authors discuss the war without guns doctors and other health professionals are waging against killer diseases and poor health.
2003
Report
Final Evaluation Report for the TRICARE Senior Supplement Demonstration Program
An evaluation of the TRICARE Senior Supplement Demonstration and its suitability as a permanent national health care program, and the implications of the demonstration for the new TRICARE for Life benefit
Apr 29, 2002
Periodical
RAND Review: Vol. 26, No. 2, Summer 2002
Surveys RAND research conducted since Sept. 11, 2001, that examines the dimensions of the terrorist threat and potential responses to it, and issues such as global priorities, oversees deployments, homeland security, and state and local initiatives.
2002
Report
Army Medical Support to the Army After Next: Issues and Insights from the Medical Technology Workshop, 1999
Gleaning insights from both the functional and technology perspectives into such areas medical informatics, combat service support, and biological and chemical defense. Identify areas warranting further investigation.
2001
Report
Final Evaluation Report for Uniformed Services Family Health Plan Continuous Open Enrollment Demonstration
This book assesses the likely impact of continuous open enrollment on beneficiaries, the DoD, and other stakeholders.
2001
Report
A Review of the Scientific Literature as it Pertains to Gulf War Illnesses: Volume 8: Pesticides
This report summarizes the scientific literature on 12 of the 35 pesticides that are likely to have been used during the Persian Gulf War.
2000
Report
A Review of the Scientific Literature As It Pertains to Gulf War Illnesses: Volume 7: Depleted Uranium
This report examines the scientific literature regarding possible health effects on U.S. troops of exposure to depleted uranium (DU) which saw widespread use during the Persian Gulf War.
1999
Testimony
A Review of the Scientific Literature as It Pertains to Gulf War Illnesses: Pyridostigmine Bromide
Testimony presented to the Sub-Committees on Health and Oversight and Investigations Committee on Veterans' Affairs U.S. House of Representatives
1999