Kristen Testa is the California health director at The Children's Partnership, working to advance policies that provide health insurance for all children in California. Her positions prior to this include assistant secretary for program and fiscal affairs at the California Health and Human Services Agency and legislative lead health staff for U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (NY) on the Senate Finance Committee, as the lead health staff for Medicaid and children's health insurance programs.
Project: Testa's project examined Australia's Medicare Plus and Medicare Safety Net initiatives and the impact of these programs on low income populations, particularly families with children and their access to care. Data analysis examined cost-sharing, out-of-pocket costs, up-take of private insurance and whether health care affordability had improved after Australia's recent reforms. Professor Jane Hall from The Centre for Health, Economics, Research and Evaluation (CHERE) was Ms Testa's mentor.
Highlights: A particular highlight for me has been visiting a local Aboriginal health clinic. The complexities of the cultural considerations that are essential for appropriate access to care are fascinating and the clinic's collaborative effort is laudable.
E-Mail: [email protected]