Tom Buchmueller

Tom Buchmueller is a Waldo O. Hildebrand Professor of Risk Management and Insurance and Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business. He also holds a secondary appointment in the Department of Health Management and Policy at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. His research focuses on health insurance, health policy, equity, and disparities, with a particular emphasis on Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and opioid policy.

• PhD, University of Wisconsin, Madison (1992)
• BA, Carleton College (1985)

Professor Buchmueller’s recent work examines Medicaid policy changes, health insurance disparities among LGBTQIA2S+ adults, and the impact of prescription drug monitoring programs. His studies span international comparisons (France, Australia, Netherlands) and domestic U.S. policy analysis. Key contributions include assessing how Medicaid expansion affects employment, healthcare access, and household consumption, as well as evaluating ACA-related equity improvements.

• Medicaid Expansion and ACA Impacts
• Opioid and Benzodiazepine Prescription Monitoring
• Health Insurance Disparities
• International Health Systems
• Telehealth Utilization
• Insulin Affordability Policies

His scientific accolades include a named professorship at the Ross School, leadership roles at the American Society of Health Economists, and affiliations with the National Bureau of Economic Research and Brookings Institution. His research has directly influenced U.S. health policy, including the ACA and Medicaid reforms.

• Research Associate, National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)
• Non-Resident Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution
• Editor-in-Chief, American Journal of Health Economics
• Senior Health Economist, White House Council of Economic Advisers (2011-2012)
• Deputy Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2023-2025)