Melissa will be joining Avalere’s Policy practice as a principal where she will work with hospital, physician, pharmaceutical, post-acute care (PAC), and related associations to understand and quantify the impact of legislative and regulatory changes. She previously worked at RTI International for more than 14 years, supporting a range of government clients.

“Melissa’s experience partnering with the government on key payment reform initiatives will provide clients with the intelligence they need to stay ahead of rapid change,” said Practice Director Kelly Brantley. “COVID-19 has created unprecedented challenges for our provider partners as well as new opportunities, and Melissa’s strong background in data analytics and policy will prove invaluable.”

During her time at RTI, Melissa worked with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Studies and the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation on Medicare payment policies with a focus on PAC payment reform, which included bundled payments and the Unified PAC Prospective Payment System. Additionally, she led work for the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to evaluate the Financial Alignment Initiative, an alternative payment model for coverage of dual-eligible beneficiaries. Melissa has also conducted research on the adoption of new prescription drugs and the sensitivity of prescribing behavior to formulary placement and out-of-pocket costs.

She has held research roles at Brandeis University and Analysis Group.

Melissa graduated from Brandeis University with a PhD in health policy/health services research. She has an MA in economics from McMaster University and a BA from Tufts University.

“I’m excited to be joining Avalere at such a transformative time in healthcare,” said Morley. “I look forward to partnering with providers, associations, and pharmaceutical companies on innovative, data-driven strategies.”

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