Joseph Benitez, Ph.D. is a an assistant professor of public policy in the Martin School of Public Policy and Administration at the University of Kentucky (UK). In addition to his primary appointment in the Martin School, he is a faculty affiliate of UK’s Center for Poverty Research and Center for Health, Engagement, and Transformation. Dr. Benitez is a health economist study Medicaid policy and Medicaid program design. In particular, he investigates the viability of Medicaid as a safety net program for households experiencing transitional poverty and healthcare access within Medicaid Managed Care. He has previously served as a visiting scholar at the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) as well as non-residential fellow with KFF’s Program on Medicaid and the Uninsured. He holds a PhD in Health Policy from the University of Illinois Chicago.