Kristen Hayashi

Kristen Hayashi is a health policy leader with over a decade of experience in Medicaid policy, value-based care, and long-term care options that promote aging in place. She specializes in leveraging rigorous data analysis and qualitative methods to generate actionable, evidence-based insights that resonate with decision makers and drive meaningful change.  

At Healthsperien, Kristen’s role involves leading health care research, providing strategic support to partnership entities, and advancing innovative, cross-sector policy solutions. Prior to joining Healthsperien, Kristen oversaw a diverse project portfolio for foundations, trade associations, and provider groups as a Senior Manager at NORC at the University of Chicago. Her work ranged from modeling the budgetary impacts of cell and gene therapy policies in Medicaid to examining the growth of for-profit entities in Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).  

Earlier in her career, Kristen provided strategic and analytic support on Massachusetts’ 1115 waiver as part of MassHealth’s Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) program team. She managed a five-year, $1.8 billion financial model calculating DSRIP program payments for Medicaid ACOs and Community Partners, organized the Delivery System Reform Implementation Advisory Council, and contributed to the development of the state’s Flexible Services program addressing health-related social needs. She also conducted research for Harvard’s Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation (CHLPI) and served as the Deputy Director of Program Operations for Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD), one of the city’s largest community action agencies.  

Kristen’s work often intersects with care quality and access issues, particularly within Medicaid, where she has seen firsthand how policy decisions can acutely impact enrollees. She is dedicated to advancing data-driven solutions that improve access, equity, and health outcomes. 

She holds a Master of Arts in Public Policy from the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from the University of California, San Diego.