Lianlian Lei, PhD
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About
Dr. Lei earned her Ph.D. in Health Services Research & Policy from the University of Rochester. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and a member of the Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation (IHPI). She aims to improve health and wellbeing of frail, older adults through rigorous research that could impact health policy.
Links
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=hTAUpukAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao https://x.com/LianlianLei
Qualifications
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Postdoctoral Research FellowUniversity of Michigan–Ann Arbor, Geriatric Psychiatry, Ann Arbor, United States
2020 - 2023
Postdoctoral Fellowship
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Ph.D., Health Services Research and PolicyUniversity of Rochester, Rochester, United States
2014 - 2020
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M.A., EconomicsShanghai University of Finance and Economics, Shanghai, China
2011 - 2013
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B.S., EconomicsSouthwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu, China
2007 - 2011
Center Memberships
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Center MemberInstitute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation
Research Overview
Dr. Lei’s research focuses on aging, dementia care, caregivers, and Medicare Advantage. She uses nationally representative survey and claims data and causal inference methodologies to examine factors linked with health care costs and utilization among older adults, particularly those living with dementia. Dr. Lei is currently studying the impact of informal caregiving on health care use of both older adults with dementia and caregivers. Dr. Lei is also interested in the impact of Medicare Advantage on health care among older adults.
Recent Publications
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Lei L, Krein SL, Petzold K, Kim HM, Intrator O, Van Houtven CH, Min L, Strominger J, Maust DT. Medical Care, 2026 Aug 1; 64 (8): 512 - 520.Journal ArticleConsistency of a Dementia Diagnosis Between Systems for Patients Receiving Care Through the VA, Traditional Medicare, and Medicare Advantage
DOI:10.1097/MLR.0000000000002342 PMID: 42240107 -
Bonar EE, Tan CY, Patyk A, Lei L, Maust DT. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 2026 Apr 1; 34 (4): 639 - 644.Journal ArticleAgitation in Alzheimer’s Disease as a Qualifying Condition for Medical Cannabis in the United States: A Brief Report on Current Trends
DOI:10.1016/j.jagp.2025.06.003 PMID: 40592641 -
Bonar EE, Lei L, Kirch M, Hassett KP, Solway E, Singer DC, Strunk SN, Roberts JS, Malani PN, Kullgren JT. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 2025 Nov 21;Journal ArticleDriving after cannabis consumption among US adults ages 50 years and older: A short communication.
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Lei L. 2026 Jul 28;PresentationConsistency of a Dementia Diagnosis between Systems for Patients Receiving Care
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Bonar E, Solway E, Lei L, Kirch M, Singer D, Strunk S, Roberts JS, Malani P. Innovation in Aging, 2026 Jan 4; 9 (Supplement_2): igaf122.1969Journal ArticleOlder Adults’ Perspectives on and Experiences with Cannabis Use: Results From the 2024 National Poll on Healthy Aging
DOI:10.1093/geroni/igaf122.1969 PMID: PMC12763590 -
Gavin K. 2026 Jul 28;Additional Scholarship5 things everyone with Medicare should do right now
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Lei L, Petzold K, Strominger J, Maust DT. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2026 Jul 28; 73 (9): 2923 - 2927.Journal ArticleSupport and Internet Use in Navigating Medicare Plans Among Older Americans
DOI:10.1111/jgs.19516 -
Donvito T. 2026 Jul 28;Additional ScholarshipSandwich Generation Stress: How to Cope With Kids and Aging Parents
Featured News & Stories
Lianlian Lei, Ph.D., quoted in Parents story: Nearly 1 in 4 Adults Are in the ‘Sandwich Generation’—Here’s What That Really Means for Families
5 things everyone with Medicare should do right now