Laurence Baker

Administrative Appointments

• Director of the Scholarly Concentration Program, Stanford University , (2007– present )
• Chief of Health Services Research, Department of Health Research and Policy , (2001– present )
• Research Associate, National Bureau of Economic Research , (2002– present )
• Fellow, Stanford Center for Health Policy , (2000– present )

Honors and Awards

• ASHE Medal, American Society of Health Economists (2008)
• Alice S. Hersh Young Investigator Award, Academy for Health Services Research and Health Policy (2000)
• NIHCM Research Award, National Institute for Health Care Management (1999)

Professional Education

• PhD, Princeton University Economics (1994)
• MA, Princeton University Economics (1994)

Graduate & Fellowship Program Affiliations

• Health Services Research

Industry Relationships

Stanford is committed to ethical and transparent interactions with our industry partners. It is our policy to disclose payments of $5,000 or more, equity valued at $5,000 or more in a publicly traded company, or any equity in a privately held company, to physicians and scientists employed by Stanford University from companies or other commercial entities with which they interact as part of their professional activities. 

• Consulting: American Hospital Association, Analysis Group, National Institute for Health Care Management, Pacific Business Group on Health

Research Interests

Much of my current research examines the impacts of changing financial incentives, regulations, and organizational structures on health care provision and costs. One aspect of work in this area involves studying impacts of managed care and related insurance arrangements on things like health care costs, the pricing of physician services, prices for health insurance, and the availability and utilization of medical technologies. Other work examines factors influencing the adoption and use of medical technologies more generally, including particular work on imaging equipment. I am also interested in a range of other questions about health care systems, physicians organizations, provider compensation, health care cost growth, and health care quality.

Publications

• Health care cost growth among the privately insured. Bundorf MK,  Royalty A, Baker LC.  Health Aff (Millwood).  2009 Sep-Oct; 28 (5): 1294-304
• Magnetic resonance imaging and low back pain care for medicare patients. Baras JD,  Baker LC.  Health Aff (Millwood).  2009 Nov-Dec; 28 (6): w1133-40
• Patient safety climate in 92 US hospitals: differences by work area and discipline. Singer SJ,  Gaba DM, Falwell A, Lin S, Hayes J, Baker L.  Med Care.  2009; 47 (1): 23-31
• Expanded use of imaging technology and the challenge of measuring value. Baker LC,  Atlas SW, Afendulis CC.  Health Aff (Millwood).  2008 Nov-Dec; 27 (6): 1467-78
• Variations in hospital resource use for Medicare and privately insured populations in California. Baker LC,  Fisher ES, Wennberg JE.  Health Aff (Millwood).  2008 Mar-Apr; 27 (2): w123-34
• Decreasing reimbursements for outpatient emergency department visits across payer groups from 1996 to 2004. Hsia RY,  MacIsaac D, Baker LC.  Ann Emerg Med.  2008; 51 (3): 265-74, 274.e1-5
• Trends in charges and payments for nonhospitalized emergency department pediatric visits, 1996-2003. Hsia RY,  MacIsaac D, Palm E, Baker LC.  Acad Emerg Med.  2008; 15 (4): 347-54
• Patient safety climate in US hospitals: variation by management level. Singer SJ,  Falwell A, Gaba DM, Baker LC.  Med Care.  2008; 46 (11): 1149-56
• Health plan performance measurement: does it affect quality of care for Medicare managed care enrollees? Bundorf MK,  Choudhry K, Baker L.  Inquiry.  2008; 45 (2): 168-83
• Job satisfaction and motivation among physicians in academic medical centers: insights from a cross-national study. Janus K,  Amelung VE, Baker LC, Gaitanides M, Schwartz FW, Rundall TG.  J Health Polit Policy Law.  2008; 33 (6): 1133-67
• Physician practice size and variations in treatments and outcomes: evidence from Medicare patients with AMI. Ketcham JD,  Baker LC, MacIsaac D.  Health Aff (Millwood).  2007 Jan-Feb; 26 (1): 195-205
• Level and volume of neonatal intensive care and mortality in very-low-birth-weight infants. Phibbs CS,  Baker LC, Caughey AB, Danielsen B, Schmitt SK, Phibbs RH.  N Engl J Med.  2007; 356 (21): 2165-75
• Laws requiring health plans to provide direct access to obstetricians and gynecologists, and use of cancer screening by women. Baker LC,  Chan J.  Health Serv Res.  2007; 42 (3 Pt 1): 990-1007
• Proposition 71 and CIRM--assessing the return on investment. Longaker MT,  Baker LC, Greely HT.  Nat Biotechnol.  2007; 25 (5): 513-21
• Workforce perceptions of hospital safety culture: development and validation of the patient safety climate in healthcare organizations survey. Singer S,  Meterko M, Baker L, Gaba D, Falwell A, Rosen A.  Health Serv Res.  2007; 42 (5): 1999-2021
• Ongoing physical activity advice by humans versus computers: the Community Health Advice by Telephone (CHAT) trial. King AC,  Friedman R, Marcus B, Castro C, Napolitano M, Ahn D, Baker L.  Health Psychol.  2007; 26 (6): 718-27
• Does quality improvement implementation affect hospital quality of care? Alexander JA,  Weiner BJ, Shortell SM, Baker LC.  Hosp Top.  2007; 85 (2): 3-12
• Differences in neonatal mortality among whites and Asian American subgroups: evidence from California. Baker LC,  Afendulis CC, Chandra A, McConville S, Phibbs CS, Fuentes-Afflick E.  Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med.  2007; 161 (1): 69-76
• Do mandates requiring insurers to pay for emergency care influence the use of the emergency department? Hsia RY,  Chan J, Baker LC.  Health Aff (Millwood).  2006 Jul-Aug; 25 (4): 1086-94
• Quality improvement implementation and hospital performance on patient safety indicators. Weiner BJ,  Alexander JA, Baker LC, Shortell SM, Becker M.  Med Care Res Rev.  2006; 63 (1): 29-57
• Who searches the internet for health information? Bundorf MK,  Wagner TH, Singer SJ, Baker LC.  Health Serv Res.  2006; 41 (3 Pt 1): 819-36
• The role of organizational infrastructure in implementation of hospitals' quality improvement. Alexander JA,  Weiner BJ, Shortell SM, Baker LC, Becker MP.  Hosp Top.  2006; 84 (1): 11-20
• Quality improvement implementation and hospital performance on quality indicators. Weiner BJ,  Alexander JA, Shortell SM, Baker LC, Becker M, Geppert JJ.  Health Serv Res.  2006; 41 (2): 307-34
• Impact of instructional practices on student satisfaction with attendings' teaching in the inpatient component of internal medicine clerkships. Guarino CM,  Ko CY, Baker LC, Klein DJ, Quiter ES, Escarce JJ.  J Gen Intern Med.  2006; 21 (1): 7-12
• Effect of opening midlevel neonatal intensive care units on the location of low birth weight births in California. Haberland CA,  Phibbs CS, Baker LC.  Pediatrics.  2006; 118 (6): e1667-79
• Effect of an Internet-based system for doctor-patient communication on health care spending. Baker L,  Rideout J, Gertler P, Raube K.  J Am Med Inform Assoc.  2005 Sep-Oct; 12 (5): 530-6
• Evaluating the efficiency of california providers in caring for patients with chronic illnesses. Wennberg JE,  Fisher ES, Baker L, Sharp SM, Bronner KK.  Health Aff (Millwood).  2005 Jul-Dec; Suppl Web Exclusives W5-526-43
• Benefits of interoperability: a closer look at the estimates. Baker LC,  Health Aff (Millwood).  2005 Jan-Jun; Suppl Web Exclusives W5-22-W5-25
• The relationship between SCHIP enrollment and hospitalizations for ambulatory care sensitive conditions in California. Bermudez D,  Baker L.  J Health Care Poor Underserved.  2005; 16 (1): 96-110
• Free internet access, the digital divide, and health information. Wagner TH,  Bundorf MK, Singer SJ, Baker LC.  Med Care.  2005; 43 (4): 415-20
• Medicaid managed care and health care for children. Baker LC,  Afendulis C.  Health Serv Res.  2005; 40 (5 Pt 1): 1466-88
• Predictors of surgery resident satisfaction with teaching by attendings: a national survey. Ko CY,  Escarce JJ, Baker L, Sharp J, Guarino C.  Ann Surg.  2005; 241 (2): 373-80
• Consumers' use of the Internet for health insurance. Bundorf MK,  Singer SJ, Wagner TH, Baker L.  Am J Manag Care.  2004; 10 (9): 609-16
• Relationship between HMO market share and the diffusion and use of advanced MRI technologies. Baker LC,  Atlas SW.  J Am Coll Radiol.  2004; 1 (7): 478-87
• Predictors for medical students entering a general surgery residency: National survey results. Ko CY,  Escarce JJ, Baker L, Klein D, Guarino C.  Surgery.  2004; 136 (3): 567-72
• Within-year variation in hospital utilization and its implications for hospital costs. Bakera LC,  Phibbs CS, Guarino C, Supina D, Reynolds JL.  J Health Econ.  2004; 23 (1): 191-211
• Variation in access to health care for different racial/ethnic groups by the racial/ethnic composition of an individual's county of residence. Haas JS,  Phillips KA, Sonneborn D, McCulloch CE, Baker LC, Kaplan CP, Pérez-Stable EJ, Liang SY.  Med Care.  2004; 42 (7): 707-14
• Do health plans influence quality of care? Baker LC,  Hopkins D, Dixon R, Rideout J, Geppert J.  Int J Qual Health Care.  2004; 16 (1): 19-30
• The effect of area HMO market share on cancer screening. Baker LC,  Phillips KA, Haas JS, Liang SY, Sonneborn D.  Health Serv Res.  2004; 39 (6 Pt 1): 1751-72
• Are gatekeeper requirements associated with cancer screening utilization? Phillips KA,  Haas JS, Liang SY, Baker LC, Tye S, Kerlikowske K, Sakowski J, Spetz J.  Health Serv Res.  2004; 39 (1): 153-78
• Use of the Internet for health information by the chronically ill. Wagner TH,  Baker LC, Bundorf MK, Singer S.  Prev Chronic Dis.  2004; 1 (4): A13
• The relationship between technology availability and health care spending. Baker L,  Birnbaum H, Geppert J, Mishol D, Moyneur E.  Health Aff (Millwood).  2003 Jul-Dec; Suppl Web Exclusives W3-537-51
• Managed care spillover effects. Baker LC,  Annu Rev Public Health.  2003; 24 435-56
• Use of the Internet and e-mail for health care information: results from a national survey. Baker L,  Wagner TH, Singer S, Bundorf MK.  JAMA.  2003; 289 (18): 2400-6
• Is the prevalence of gatekeeping in a community associated with individual trust in medical care? Haas JS,  Phillips KA, Baker LC, Sonneborn D, McCulloch CE.  Med Care.  2003; 41 (5): 660-8
• Managed care, medical technology, and the well-being of society. Baker L,  Top Magn Reson Imaging.  2002; 13 (2): 107-13
• The burden of out-of-pocket payments for health care in Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia. Skarbinski J,  Walker HK, Baker LC, Kobaladze A, Kirtava Z, Raffin TA.  JAMA.  2002; 287 (8): 1043-9
• Effect of managed care on preventable hospitalization rates in California. Backus L,  Moron M, Bacchetti P, Baker LC, Bindman AB.  Med Care.  2002; 40 (4): 315-24
• The relation between managed care market share and the treatment of elderly fee-for-service patients with myocardial infarction. Heidenreich PA,  McClellan M, Frances C, Baker LC.  Am J Med.  2002; 112 (3): 176-82
• Managed care, technology adoption, and health care: the adoption of neonatal intensive care. Baker LC,  Phibbs CS.  Rand J Econ.  2002; 33 (3): 524-48
• The impact of practice setting on physician perceptions of the quality of practice and patient care in the managed care era. Chehab EL,  Panicker N, Alper PR, Baker LC, Wilson SR, Raffin TA.  Arch Intern Med.  2001; 161 (2): 202-11
• Measuring competition in health care markets. Baker LC,  Health Serv Res.  2001; 36 (1 Pt 2): 223-51
• Managed care and technology adoption in health care: evidence from magnetic resonance imaging. Baker LC,  J Health Econ.  2001; 20 (3): 395-421
• Managed Care, Health Care Quality, and Regulation Baker LC,  McClellan MB.  Journal of Legal Studies.  2001; 30 (2, part 2): 715-742
• HMO market penetration and costs of employer-sponsored health plans. Baker LC,  Cantor JC, Long SH, Marquis MS.  Health Aff (Millwood).  2000 Sep-Oct; 19 (5): 121-8
• Medicaid Policy, Physician Behavior, and Health Care for the Low-Income Population Baker LC,  Royalty AB.  Journal of Human Resources.  2000; 35 (3): 480-502
• The effect of passing an "anti-immigrant" ballot proposition on the use of prenatal care by foreign-born mothers in California. Spetz J,  Baker L, Phibbs C, Pedersen R, Tafoya S.  J Immigr Health.  2000; 2 (4): 203-12
• 'Competition' among employers offering health insurance. Dranove D,  Spier KE, Baker L.  J Health Econ.  2000; 19 (1): 121-40
• Physicians' perceptions of autonomy and satisfaction in California. Burdi MD,  Baker LC.  Health Aff (Millwood).  1999 Jul-Aug; 18 (4): 134-45
• Association of managed care market share and health expenditures for fee-for-service Medicare patients. Baker LC,  JAMA.  1999; 281 (5): 432-7
• Managed care, consolidation among health care providers, and health care: evidence from mammography. Baker LC,  Brown ML.  Rand J Econ.  1999; 30 (2): 351-74
• Managed care and technology diffusion: the case of MRI. Baker LC,  Wheeler SK.  Health Aff (Millwood).  1998 Sep-Oct; 17 (5): 195-207
• Factors associated with women's adherence to mammography screening guidelines. Phillips KA,  Kerlikowske K, Baker LC, Chang SW, Brown ML.  Health Serv Res.  1998; 33 (1): 29-53
• Effect of an intensive educational program for minority college students and recent graduates on the probability of acceptance to medical school. Cantor JC,  Bergeisen L, Baker LC.  JAMA.  1998; 280 (9): 772-6
• Market-level health maintenance organization activity and physician autonomy and satisfaction. Burdi MD,  Baker LC.  Am J Manag Care.  1997; 3 (9): 1357-66
• Factors associated with the perception that debt influences physicians' specialty choices. Baker LC,  Barker DC.  Acad Med.  1997; 72 (12): 1088-96
• The effect of HMOs on fee-for-service health care expenditures: evidence from Medicare. Baker LC,  J Health Econ.  1997; 16 (4): 453-81
• Physician service to the underserved: implications for affirmative action in medical education. Cantor JC,  Miles EL, Baker LC, Barker DC.  Inquiry.  1996; 33 (2): 167-80
• Differences in earnings between male and female physicians. Baker LC,  N Engl J Med.  1996; 334 (15): 960-4
• HMO penetration and the cost of health care: market discipline or market segmentation? Baker LC,  Corts KS.  Am Econ Rev.  1996; 86 (2): 389-94
• Tracking the changes in physician practice settings. Hughes RG,  Baker LC.  Arch Fam Med.  1995; 4 (9): 759-65
• Medical costs in workers' compensation insurance. Baker LC,  Krueger AB.  J Health Econ.  1995; 14 (5): 531-49
• What makes young HMO physicians satisfied? Baker LC,  Cantor JC, Miles EL, Sandy LG.  HMO Pract.  1994; 8 (2): 53-7
• Excess cost of emergency department visits for nonurgent care. Baker LC,  Baker LS.  Health Aff (Millwood).  1994; 13 (5): 162-71
• Twenty-four-hour coverage and workers' compensation insurance. Baker LC,  Krueger AB.  Health Aff (Millwood).  1993; 12 Suppl 271-81
• Physician satisfaction under managed care. Baker LC,  Cantor JC.  Health Aff (Millwood).  1993; 12 Suppl 258-70
• Preparedness for practice. Young physicians' views of their professional education. Cantor JC,  Baker LC, Hughes RG.  JAMA.  1993; 270 (9): 1035-40