Barkowski named Policy Research Award finalist by national institute

The National Institute for Health Care Management named Scott Barkowski, assistant professor of economics, a finalist for its 2026 Policy Research Award. Selected from more than 320 entries, the awards honor impactful health care research, policy and journalism. Barkowski’s study, published in the Journal of Health Economics, examines how physicians’ awareness of peers’ costs influences referrals. Barkowski's research explores health insurance’s reach and the effects of public policies, including Medicaid expansions, throughout society.