Mona Shah
@mona-shah.bsky.social
Harnessing the power of research to advance #HealthEquity | Director of Research @rwjf.org| she/her
Pinned
Mona Shah
@mona-shah.bsky.social
· Mar 18
Hi Bluesky 👏🏼
Let me introduce myself! I’m Mona Shah, Research Director at @rwjf.bsky.social. I care about dismantling structural racism & advocating for health equity. Some things I'll be posting about are healthcare coverage, repro justice, the racial wealth gap, & more. Let’s connect!
Let me introduce myself! I’m Mona Shah, Research Director at @rwjf.bsky.social. I care about dismantling structural racism & advocating for health equity. Some things I'll be posting about are healthcare coverage, repro justice, the racial wealth gap, & more. Let’s connect!
As Thanksgiving approaches, I’m reflecting on the things I’m grateful for. In a world that’s so heavy right now, it feels important to pause and lift up the light. Here’s my list so far. What would you add to your list?
November 25, 2025 at 1:47 PM
As Thanksgiving approaches, I’m reflecting on the things I’m grateful for. In a world that’s so heavy right now, it feels important to pause and lift up the light. Here’s my list so far. What would you add to your list?
Reposted by Mona Shah
In some states, cities and counties can establish a higher minimum wage to better address local costs of living.
In other states, lawmakers are blocking local leaders from setting adequate wage requirements.
Does your city have the power to raise its own minimum wage?
1/
In other states, lawmakers are blocking local leaders from setting adequate wage requirements.
Does your city have the power to raise its own minimum wage?
1/
Minimum wage: State solutions to the U.S. worker rights crisis
What does current federal law say about minimum wages? The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes a “floor under wages” mandating that employers pay covered employees no less than a minimum hourl...
www.epi.org
November 12, 2025 at 9:44 PM
In some states, cities and counties can establish a higher minimum wage to better address local costs of living.
In other states, lawmakers are blocking local leaders from setting adequate wage requirements.
Does your city have the power to raise its own minimum wage?
1/
In other states, lawmakers are blocking local leaders from setting adequate wage requirements.
Does your city have the power to raise its own minimum wage?
1/
Reposted by Mona Shah
#CornellILR's @ericagroshen.bsky.social says that the unusual length of the government closure means that some data was not collected on schedule, creating potential gaps in the upcoming reports. Each economic series will be affected differently depending on how, when + from whom data was gathered.
Economic data is back following government reopening - here are the key events this week
US economic data 2025: The U.S. government has reopened after its longest shutdown, paving the way for the release of critical economic data such as the September jobs report, CPI, PPI, and PCE. Key c...
economictimes.indiatimes.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:00 PM
#CornellILR's @ericagroshen.bsky.social says that the unusual length of the government closure means that some data was not collected on schedule, creating potential gaps in the upcoming reports. Each economic series will be affected differently depending on how, when + from whom data was gathered.
🚨New grantee alert! Five community-led, one-year pilot studies will test new ways for medical, social, and public health systems to work together to dismantle systemic racism and improve health and social outcomes for communities facing inequities. Learn more:
systemsforaction.org/news-events
systemsforaction.org/news-events
News and Events
systemsforaction.org
November 24, 2025 at 1:14 PM
🚨New grantee alert! Five community-led, one-year pilot studies will test new ways for medical, social, and public health systems to work together to dismantle systemic racism and improve health and social outcomes for communities facing inequities. Learn more:
systemsforaction.org/news-events
systemsforaction.org/news-events
Across the country, health equity researchers are facing new limits on and threats to their work. At the same time, policymakers still need clear, accurate information about what communities really need. How do we navigate this moment and ensure research remains grounded in lived experience?
November 21, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Across the country, health equity researchers are facing new limits on and threats to their work. At the same time, policymakers still need clear, accurate information about what communities really need. How do we navigate this moment and ensure research remains grounded in lived experience?
As a sports fan, I’m inspired when athletes use their platforms for equity & justice. And as a researcher, I love seeing new data showing most Americans feel the same. For more, check out this new study from PerryUndem & @rwjf.org around narrative change through sports:
www.rwjf.org/en/insights/...
www.rwjf.org/en/insights/...
Stories open hearts. Data opens eyes.
Sports fans are paying attention. Research shows most fans support athletes and teams who take a stand on social issues. Use these insights to shape how you communicate, reach fans where they are, and...
www.rwjf.org
November 19, 2025 at 4:25 PM
As a sports fan, I’m inspired when athletes use their platforms for equity & justice. And as a researcher, I love seeing new data showing most Americans feel the same. For more, check out this new study from PerryUndem & @rwjf.org around narrative change through sports:
www.rwjf.org/en/insights/...
www.rwjf.org/en/insights/...
Reposted by Mona Shah
The share of veterans enrolled in Medicaid varies across states, ranging from as low as 6% in North Dakota and New Hampshire to as high as 15% in Louisiana, Montana, New Mexico, and New York. https://on.kff.org/4p2i3Vl
November 11, 2025 at 5:25 PM
The share of veterans enrolled in Medicaid varies across states, ranging from as low as 6% in North Dakota and New Hampshire to as high as 15% in Louisiana, Montana, New Mexico, and New York. https://on.kff.org/4p2i3Vl
Reposted by Mona Shah
Millions rely on Medicaid and Marketplace coverage for birth control — from the pill to IUDs to hormonal treatments.
Cutting these programs = cutting off access to essential care.
Birth control IS health care.
#ThxBirthControl
Cutting these programs = cutting off access to essential care.
Birth control IS health care.
#ThxBirthControl
November 12, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Millions rely on Medicaid and Marketplace coverage for birth control — from the pill to IUDs to hormonal treatments.
Cutting these programs = cutting off access to essential care.
Birth control IS health care.
#ThxBirthControl
Cutting these programs = cutting off access to essential care.
Birth control IS health care.
#ThxBirthControl
The Partnership to Advance Transformation in Higher Ed (PATH) launched a national study on how recent policy changes are shaping campus life for students, faculty & staff. If you’re 18+ & currently at a U.S. college, you can take part here: qualtrics.ou.edu/jfe/form/SV_...
Online Survey Software | Qualtrics Survey Solutions
Qualtrics sophisticated online survey software solutions make creating online surveys easy. Learn more about Research Suite and get a free account today.
qualtrics.ou.edu
November 18, 2025 at 1:32 PM
The Partnership to Advance Transformation in Higher Ed (PATH) launched a national study on how recent policy changes are shaping campus life for students, faculty & staff. If you’re 18+ & currently at a U.S. college, you can take part here: qualtrics.ou.edu/jfe/form/SV_...
Rising costs for childcare, housing & healthcare are hitting families hard. @urbaninstitute.bsky.social created the American Affordability Tracker to show policymakers what it really costs to live securely in every state & district and help inform policy decisions.
November 13, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Rising costs for childcare, housing & healthcare are hitting families hard. @urbaninstitute.bsky.social created the American Affordability Tracker to show policymakers what it really costs to live securely in every state & district and help inform policy decisions.
700+ NIH grants have been forced to remove words like “equity,” “disparities,” and references to race or gender. These changes shift the meaning, direction, and impact of the study. Learn more about how these requirements are placing researchers in a lose-lose situation.
bit.ly/3Lz4IW0
bit.ly/3Lz4IW0
November 12, 2025 at 3:37 PM
700+ NIH grants have been forced to remove words like “equity,” “disparities,” and references to race or gender. These changes shift the meaning, direction, and impact of the study. Learn more about how these requirements are placing researchers in a lose-lose situation.
bit.ly/3Lz4IW0
bit.ly/3Lz4IW0
A new study from @transjournalists.org and Berkeley Media Studies Group found that in a sample of news stories about attacks on trans people, 70% did not quote a single trans person. www.transjournalists.org/tja-bmsg-exe...
How journalists covered the attack on trans rights in Trump's first 100 days
Trans perspectives were rarely present in articles about the consequences federal actions would have on their lives, according to an analysis conducted by Berkeley Media Studies Group in partnership w...
www.transjournalists.org
November 11, 2025 at 2:25 PM
A new study from @transjournalists.org and Berkeley Media Studies Group found that in a sample of news stories about attacks on trans people, 70% did not quote a single trans person. www.transjournalists.org/tja-bmsg-exe...
Reposted by Mona Shah
"A new Sacramento State report shows giving low-income families $500 a month for one year significantly improved their financial and food security."
$500-a-month program helped Sacramento families gain stability, study finds
YouTube video by ABC10
www.youtube.com
October 30, 2025 at 3:02 PM
"A new Sacramento State report shows giving low-income families $500 a month for one year significantly improved their financial and food security."
Reposted by Mona Shah
An excellent piece of journalism here from the New York Times about just one large vendor, Equifax, who will profit from the new Medicaid work requirement that will cause people who desperately need health insurance to lose it while for profit companies benefit.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/h...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/h...
‘A Big Positive’: How One Company Plans to Profit From Medicaid Cuts
www.nytimes.com
November 3, 2025 at 6:19 PM
An excellent piece of journalism here from the New York Times about just one large vendor, Equifax, who will profit from the new Medicaid work requirement that will cause people who desperately need health insurance to lose it while for profit companies benefit.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/h...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/h...
Reposted by Mona Shah
Wondering where health care policy is going (and how we got here?) Check out my wide-ranging conversation with @princeton.edu grad and @tcfdotorg.bsky.social senior fellow @chiquitabl.bsky.social, former CMS administrator.
The Princeton Pulse Podcast, hosted by @heatherhhoward.bsky.social, addresses the future of Medicare and Medicaid, and opportunities for advancing health care equity, access, and innovation in the U.S. with former CMS Administrator @chiquitabl.bsky.social.
chw.princeton.edu/news/podcast...
chw.princeton.edu/news/podcast...
PODCAST: An Insider’s View on the Future of U.S. Health Policy
Chiquita Brooks-LaSure discusses opportunities for advancing equity, access, and innovation in U.S. health care.
chw.princeton.edu
November 5, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Wondering where health care policy is going (and how we got here?) Check out my wide-ranging conversation with @princeton.edu grad and @tcfdotorg.bsky.social senior fellow @chiquitabl.bsky.social, former CMS administrator.
New research from @itep.org shows cities could cut child poverty by up to 25% by offering just $1,000 or less per year to families with low incomes.
Small investment ➡️Huge return for families, communities, and local economies.
stateline.org/2025/10/24/c...
Small investment ➡️Huge return for families, communities, and local economies.
stateline.org/2025/10/24/c...
Cities could dramatically cut childhood poverty with new tax credits, research finds • Stateline
Child tax credits are becoming more popular across the country, with more than a dozen states offering them as financial relief toward the cost of raising kids. But new research suggests cities could ...
stateline.org
November 6, 2025 at 2:41 PM
New research from @itep.org shows cities could cut child poverty by up to 25% by offering just $1,000 or less per year to families with low incomes.
Small investment ➡️Huge return for families, communities, and local economies.
stateline.org/2025/10/24/c...
Small investment ➡️Huge return for families, communities, and local economies.
stateline.org/2025/10/24/c...
Paid leave boosts health, supports infants, reduces postpartum depression, and strengthens the workforce – As a researcher, Whitney Wells knew all of these benefits, but when she became a mom she got to experience it firsthand on a whole new level. Read her story:
progressive.org/op-eds/paid-...
progressive.org/op-eds/paid-...
Paid Family Leave Can Be a Lifeline
I study how paid family leave impacts the health of parents. When I gave birth, I became one of my own statistics.
progressive.org
November 4, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Paid leave boosts health, supports infants, reduces postpartum depression, and strengthens the workforce – As a researcher, Whitney Wells knew all of these benefits, but when she became a mom she got to experience it firsthand on a whole new level. Read her story:
progressive.org/op-eds/paid-...
progressive.org/op-eds/paid-...
Reposted by Mona Shah
Opt-in apps/web-based tools will not be sufficient to reduce the anticipated loss of coverage expected when Medicaid work requirements are implemented. They also ignore areas with limited or no internet access.
www.cnn.com/2025/10/22/h... #Medicaid #healthpolicy
www.cnn.com/2025/10/22/h... #Medicaid #healthpolicy
Officials show little proof that new tech will help Medicaid enrollees meet work rules | CNN
The Trump administration says it’s developing a digital tool to help people prove they’re meeting new Medicaid work requirements. KFF Health News talked to officials from the two states running pilot ...
www.cnn.com
October 24, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Opt-in apps/web-based tools will not be sufficient to reduce the anticipated loss of coverage expected when Medicaid work requirements are implemented. They also ignore areas with limited or no internet access.
www.cnn.com/2025/10/22/h... #Medicaid #healthpolicy
www.cnn.com/2025/10/22/h... #Medicaid #healthpolicy
Reposted by Mona Shah
For years, TV shows have put caregiving on the big screen.. advocates say Hollywood may be the key to achieving national paid leave by showing the reality of work, family, and care.
Most recently The Pitt put this story front and center.. What's next? 📺 https://bit.ly/3Wsm3SJ
Most recently The Pitt put this story front and center.. What's next? 📺 https://bit.ly/3Wsm3SJ
Can Hollywood do for paid leave what Congress hasn’t?
TV once made designated drivers mainstream, and 'Will & Grace' changed hearts on marriage equality. Now an effort is underway to get caregiving on screens — and perhaps influence paid family leave pol...
bit.ly
October 28, 2025 at 2:25 PM
For years, TV shows have put caregiving on the big screen.. advocates say Hollywood may be the key to achieving national paid leave by showing the reality of work, family, and care.
Most recently The Pitt put this story front and center.. What's next? 📺 https://bit.ly/3Wsm3SJ
Most recently The Pitt put this story front and center.. What's next? 📺 https://bit.ly/3Wsm3SJ
As the federal shutdown continues, it’s threatening essential support programs like SNAP, which millions of families rely on to put food on the table. The bright spot? States are stepping up to fill the gaps!
The Bridge Project is the perfect example ⬇️
The Bridge Project is the perfect example ⬇️
November 3, 2025 at 2:53 PM
As the federal shutdown continues, it’s threatening essential support programs like SNAP, which millions of families rely on to put food on the table. The bright spot? States are stepping up to fill the gaps!
The Bridge Project is the perfect example ⬇️
The Bridge Project is the perfect example ⬇️
Data should always be a force for good. But right now we are seeing the removal of key public health datasets which not only deepen inequities, but erode community trust in government. With 2030 Census ahead, we must act to protect communities and democracy. Learn more: www.rwjf.org/en/insights/...
To Protect Democracy, We Must Protect Public Health Data
Our democracy’s strength depends on robust data. We must protect the next Census to ensure every community remains visible.
www.rwjf.org
October 30, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Data should always be a force for good. But right now we are seeing the removal of key public health datasets which not only deepen inequities, but erode community trust in government. With 2030 Census ahead, we must act to protect communities and democracy. Learn more: www.rwjf.org/en/insights/...
Reposted by Mona Shah
We can't wait to see you at #APHA2025 next month!
Get a sneak peek at the sessions, activities, and treats de Beaumont has in store. https://bit.ly/4nbMYgl
Get a sneak peek at the sessions, activities, and treats de Beaumont has in store. https://bit.ly/4nbMYgl
APHA 2025, Here We Come!
Attending APHA 2025? Add these offerings from de Beaumont to your Annual Meeting schedule.
bit.ly
October 22, 2025 at 7:24 PM
We can't wait to see you at #APHA2025 next month!
Get a sneak peek at the sessions, activities, and treats de Beaumont has in store. https://bit.ly/4nbMYgl
Get a sneak peek at the sessions, activities, and treats de Beaumont has in store. https://bit.ly/4nbMYgl
Reposted by Mona Shah
Today @uconnaaup.bsky.social turned out 200+ members and supporters to our contract action in Storrs. The part of the day that I am most proud of is teaching dozens of students about unions, solidarity, and the meaning of academic freedom. #unionyes #unionstrong
October 20, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Today @uconnaaup.bsky.social turned out 200+ members and supporters to our contract action in Storrs. The part of the day that I am most proud of is teaching dozens of students about unions, solidarity, and the meaning of academic freedom. #unionyes #unionstrong
Reposted by Mona Shah
@mrbimpact.bsky.social sat down with three experts from @georgetownccf.bsky.social who laid out the facts and realities of the difficult challenges that lie ahead for states and the domino effect for health providers and patients.
Listen. Share. Join the Conversation! https://tinyurl.com/43myhja2
Listen. Share. Join the Conversation! https://tinyurl.com/43myhja2
October 17, 2025 at 4:28 PM
@mrbimpact.bsky.social sat down with three experts from @georgetownccf.bsky.social who laid out the facts and realities of the difficult challenges that lie ahead for states and the domino effect for health providers and patients.
Listen. Share. Join the Conversation! https://tinyurl.com/43myhja2
Listen. Share. Join the Conversation! https://tinyurl.com/43myhja2
#OBBBA favors families with higher income and will reduce spending on programs that support families who need it most. Dive into the data and learn more about how this will impact families in @taxpolicycenter.bsky.social ’s report ⬇️
taxpolicycenter.org/briefs/one-b...
taxpolicycenter.org/briefs/one-b...
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) Shifts Tax Benefits for Children Toward Middle- and High-Income Families
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s (OBBBA’s) changes to the child tax credit (CTC) and other programs, like tax benefits for child care, the adoption tax credit, and tax-advantaged savings accounts for ...
taxpolicycenter.org
October 29, 2025 at 2:28 PM
#OBBBA favors families with higher income and will reduce spending on programs that support families who need it most. Dive into the data and learn more about how this will impact families in @taxpolicycenter.bsky.social ’s report ⬇️
taxpolicycenter.org/briefs/one-b...
taxpolicycenter.org/briefs/one-b...