Annie Mach is a healthcare finance analyst at the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service (CRS) in Washington, D.C. Her work focuses on private health insurance issues such as employer-sponsored health benefits, regulation of health coverage, and federal and state health reforms.

The Public Health Administration & Policy (PHAP) program prepared Mach to develop the critical thinking skills necessary for her career. She works with information surrounding quantitative and qualitative academic research, as well as information presented by advocacy organizations, think tanks and the media.

The implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has created an incredibly busy and exciting time for Mach’s work. Most of her work at CRS is spent describing the ACA and discussing its impact on individuals, employers, private health insurers and healthcare providers.

Mach also spends a large part of her time thinking about how state and federal policies interact.

“Policies can be designed to create positive changes for the greatest number of people while minimizing as many negative effects as possible. I think about the best way to respond when federal policy creates unanticipated and unintended negative consequences,” says Mach.

Mach encourages students to use every job and experience during graduate school and beyond as a learning experience.

“It’s important to remember that not every job will be a dream job, but that doesn’t mean you can’t learn and grow in the position,” says Mach. “Each position you hold is important because it allows you to improve and expand your skill set.”

~ Post by Mona Rath