Thomas Rietz

About Thomas Rietz

My passion for social policy is rooted in my years of lived experience as a child in foster care. I understand from my personal experience how services and supports can be essential for overcoming obstacles to educational attainment, housing, employment, and living a fulfilling life. I want to strengthen programs that serve people from underrepresented communities so that more people can experience greater independence and life satisfaction.A critical tool for improving policy is generating evidence. Sometimes a seemingly promising policy can have unwanted effects. Conversely, small changes to program rules can sometimes incentivize positive changes in beneficiary behavior. Through careful intervention development, proper implementation, and rigorous evaluation, we can identify what works for improving policy.I apply my training as a data analyst to generate evidence that improves key outcomes for people seeking Medicaid and Medicare services. I have an academic interest in unconditional Housing First policy, risk equalization in health insurance models, and Medicare drug price negotiation. I conduct data assessments and structure long-term use data programs, working collaboratively in a team environment. I write, analyze, and clean data, generate informative tables and graphics, and transform data systems using Python, R, and SAS coding languages.

Experience

1. Data Analytics Developer

   Mathematica

   Dec 2022 — Present

   Working with large secondary data sources such as Medicare and Medicaid administrative claims data and survey data to effectively answer research questions about health care policy• Interpreting requirements and specifications to develop performance measures based on cost and quality of care for evaluating the effectiveness of numerous health care policies• Articulating findings and working with researchers to adjust specifications and code as interim results are found• Evaluating the potential of creative ideas for service delivery and payment models to improve the health outcomes and well-being of patients, and to reduce spending for Medicare, Medicaid, and other payers

Education

• Princeton University

  Public Policy and International Affairs Junior Summer Institute Fellow

  2017 — 2017

• CGE Jordan

  US Accredited Courses - Intermediate Arabic I & II

  2017 — 2017

• DePaul University

  Bachelor’s of Arts

  2014 — 2019