Biography
Vivian Ho, Ph.D., is the James A. Baker III Institute Chair in Health Economics, a professor in the Department of Economics at Rice University, and a professor in the Department of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. Ho’s research examines the effects of economic incentives and regulations on the quality and costs of health care. Her research is widely published in economics, medical and health services research journals. Ho’s research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the American Cancer Society and Arnold Ventures.
Ho has served on the Board of Scientific Counselors for the National Center for Health Statistics, as well as on the NIH Health Services, Outcomes and Delivery study section. She was elected as a member of the National Academy of Medicine in 2020. Ho is also a founding board member of the American Society for Health Economists, a board member for Community Health Choice and a member of the Community Advisory Board at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas. Ho received her A.B. in economics from Harvard University, a graduate diploma in economics from The Australian National University and a Ph.D. in economics from Stanford University.
Contact her at vho@rice.edu or (713) 348-2195.
Recent Publications
Why Urgent Care Centers Are Popping Up Everywhere
“It’s a reasonable solution for people with minor conditions that can’t wait for primary care providers,” said fellow Vivan Ho of the boom in urgent care centers. “When you need constant management of a chronic illness, you should not go there.”
Should You Go to the ER or Urgent Care? The Options Can be Complicated and Costly
Beyond wait time, the main difference between urgent care and the ER is proven revenue-driven strategies. “We live in a fee-for-service world, so the more patients you see, the more money you make,” explained Center for Health and Biosciences's Vivian Ho.
Comparing Prices at Houston’s Biggest Hospitals
Vivian Ho, the James A. Baker III Institute Chair in Health Economics, was interviewed about her latest study comparing prices at three Houston-area hospitals: Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, Houston Methodist and Memorial Hermann. She found that mean hospital prices were highest at Methodist and lowest at St. Luke's for both BCBSTX and UnitedHealthcare PPO coverage.
Interviews
- Incremental Changes in U.S. Health Care Coverage, Interview by Tony Pistilli in The Actuary, November 2022