Mission

The Peter Lamy Center conducts research that examines economic, social, and health issues surrounding appropriate medication use.  We provide analyses to public and private decision makers to help them understand the salient tradeoffs in selecting medications, paying medication bills or implementing policies that affect prescription drug use.  Older adults are a particular focus because they are the heaviest users of medications.

Our research is driven by data, art, and science.  We make extensive use of the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey, the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, MarketScan, the Current Population Survey, the nursing home Minimum Data Set, and Medicare and Medicaid claims files, among other datasets.

The art in what we do consist of posing the right questions, selecting the best database for analysis, applying the correct analytic techniques, and properly interpreting research results.  We challenge established notions and use traditional research methods in new ways.

Our scientific and ethical standards are of the highest order.  We maintain strict patient confidentiality standards.  All work is available for public scrutiny and we share null findings.

Research Funding

Funding for specific projects comes from government agencies, private foundations, and for-profit corporations.  Inquiries about how to enlist the Center's resources for your research needs should be directed to Linda Simoni-Wastila, B.S. Pharm, PhD.