Publications by authors named "Elana Safran"

Over 10 million uninsured individuals are eligible for subsidized health insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces, and millions more were projected to become eligible with the end of the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency in 2023. Individual studies on behaviorally informed interventions designed to encourage enrollment suggest that some are more effective than others. This study summarizes evidence on the efficacy of these interventions and suggests which administrative burdens might be most relevant for potential enrollees.

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Importance: Policy makers have sought to discourage concurrent prescribing of opioids and benzodiazepines (coprescribing) because it is associated with overdose. Email alerts sent by pharmacists may reduce coprescribing, but this intervention lacks randomized evidence.

Objective: To investigate whether pharmacist emails to practitioners caring for patients who recently received opioids and benzodiazepines reduce coprescribing of these medications.

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Importance: Every year during the open enrollment period, hundreds of thousands of individuals across the Affordable Care Act marketplaces begin the enrollment process but fail to complete it, thereby resulting in coverage gaps or going uninsured.

Objective: To investigate if low-cost ($0.55 per person) letters can increase health insurance enrollment.

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Introduction: Reduction of unmet need for contraception is associated with enhanced health outcomes. We conducted a randomised controlled trial in Mozambique analysing the effects of text messages encouraging use of family planning services.

Methods: This trial was conducted within a sample of women served by the Integrated Family Planning Program implemented by Population Services International, in which community health workers provide clinic referrals for family planning services.

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