Untitled Document

Research

Roberta Riportella

Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison
Professor and Chair, Department of Consumer Science
Health Policy Specialist, Family Living Program, UW Extension
rriporte@wisc.edu

http://www.uwex.edu

Public Health Policy Education

I am an applied medical sociologist/health services researcher. My Ph.D. training from the University of Wisconsin-Madison included completion of the Certificate in Gerontology Program from the then Faye McBeath Institute on Aging. I am experienced in a broad spectrum of research on health policy issues, including issues related specifically to the medical care utilization of the elderly population.

At UW-Madison, I am pursuing a health policy research and teaching agenda as the UW Cooperative Extension health policy specialist and Professor in the Department of Consumer Science. I have a variety of opportunities to share my expertise in matters related to our older adult population. As a faculty member at UW-Madison I teach a course on health policy that deals with a wide range of factors contributing to health and health care utilization, including how these issues relate to our older population. This course is an elective for student pursuing the Specialist in Gerontology Certificate.

As Extension's health policy specialist, I am in a unique position to share with other Wisconsin professionals information and analysis about state and national health policies, including those of specific interest to seniors in Wisconsin, including Medicare, Medicaid and long term care policies. As a state specialist I have been involved in several forums intended to educate legislators about the reasons behind rising prescription drug costs as well as their potential solutions. I also sit as the appointed consumer representative on The Health Council, Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance. That Council has made several recommendations related to insurance issues specifically related to the Medicare population and Medigap needs. Spring 2005 saw the launching of an educational program about changes in Medicare designed in collaboration with the federal Center for Medicare Services. The goal is to have Extension faculty nationwide be another player in local communities who have sufficient expertise to inform Medicare eligibles and their family members about Medicare program benefits and changes. I was also part of our state's Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Group's video production of choices regarding Medicare Part D.

Representative Publications
Espeseth, A., & Riportella, R. (2006). Wisconsin�s recent BadgerCare enrollment decline: How administrative rules can set off unanticipated change. Journal of Ambulatory Care Management, 29 (4), 300-309.

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