Alexander C Adia

Alexander C Adia

Doctoral Student in Health Policy at UC Berkeley

Research Overview

Dissertation

In my dissertation research, I consider affordability and commercialization in the United States and policy remedies to protect patient welfare.

  1. In my first paper, I leverage borrower-level estimates of race and ethnicity to assess disparities in medical debt in collections. To do this, I use a sample of borrower data from one of the major credit bureaus and RAND BISG-imputed race and ethnicity data.
  2. In my second paper, I assess the impact of state-implemented surprise billing laws before the No Surprises Act on medical debt in collections
  3. In my third paper, I analyze how hospital market consolidation produces heterogeneous impacts on patient access and quality of care by a) race and ethnicity and b) payer status

Health Policy and Health Services Research

My research focuses on

  1. Adia, A. C., Hsuan, C., & Rodriguez, H. P. (2025). Health Equity and Hospital Markets: Differences in the Association of Market Concentration and Quality of Care by Patient Race/Ethnicity and Payer. Medical Care, 63(8), 565. https://doi.org/10.1097/MLR.0000000000002123
  2. Adia, A. C., Nguyen, K. H., & Ponce, N. A. (2024). EHR Data and Inclusion of Multiracial Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander People—Opportunities for Advancing Data-Centered Equity in Health Research. JAMA Network Open, 7 (3), e240719. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.0719
  3. Nguyen, K. H., Oronce, C. I. A., Adia, A. C., Yeh, J.-C., & Ponce, N. (2024). Inability to Access Needed Medical Care Among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Medicaid Enrollees. The Journal of Ambulatory Care Management, 10.1097/JAC.0000000000000489. https://doi.org/10.1097/JAC.0000000000000489
  4. Jiang, J. J., Adia, A. C., Nazareno, J., Operario, D., Ponce, N. A., & Shireman, T. I. (2022). The Association Between Moderate and Serious Mental Health Distress and General Health Services Utilization Among Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese Adults in California. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 9(1), 227–235. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-020-00946-w
  5. Ponce, N. A., Adia, A. C., Banawa, R. A., Tan, S., & Sabado-Liwag, M. D. (2022). Measuring Asian hate: Discordant reporting of race-based hate incidents and unfair treatment and association with measures of wellbeing. Frontiers in public health, 10, 958857. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.958857
  6. Sabado-Liwag, M. D., Manalo-Pedro, E., Taggueg, R., Bacong, A. M., Adia, A., Demanarig, D., Sumibcay, J. R., Valderama-Wallace, C., Oronce, C. I. A., Bonus, R., & Ponce, N. A. (2022). Addressing The Interlocking Impact Of Colonialism And Racism On Filipinx/a/o American Health Inequities. Health Affairs, 41(2), 289–295. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2021.01418
  7. Oronce, C. I. A., Adia, A. C., & Ponce, N. A. (2021). US Health Care Relies on Filipinxs While Ignoring Their Health Needs: Disguised Disparities and the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Health Forum, 2(7), e211489. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamahealthforum.2021.1489
  8. Adia, A. C., Nazareno, J., Operario, D., & Ponce, N. A. (2020). Health Conditions, Outcomes, and Service Access Among Filipino, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Adults in California, 2011-2017. American Journal of Public Health, 110(4), 520–526. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2019.305523
  9. Shireman, T. I., Adia, A. C., Tan, Y., Zhu, L., Rhee, J., Ogunwobi, O. O., & Ma, G. X. (2020). Online versus in- person training of community health workers to enhance hepatitis B virus screening among Korean Americans: Evaluating cost & outcomes. Preventive medicine reports, 19, 101131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2020.101131
  10. Basile, M., Press, A., Adia, A. C., Wang, J. J., Herman, S. W., Lester, J., Parikh, N., & Hajizadeh, N. (2019). Does Calculated Prognostic Estimation Lead to Different Outcomes Compared With Experience-Based Prognostication in the ICU? A Systematic Review. Critical Care Explorations, 1(2), e0004. https://doi.org/10.1097/CCE.0000000000000004
  11. Adia, A. C., Matos, Q. P., Monteiro, K., & Kim, H. H. (2018). The Association Between Postpartum Healthcare Encounters and Contraceptive Use among Rhode Island Mothers, 2012-2015. Rhode Island Medical Journal (2013), 101(3), 29–32.

Behavioral and Social Sciences Research

  1. Restar, A. J., Quilantang, M. I., Wickersham, J., Adia, A., Guigayoma, J., Bermudez, A. N., Galárraga, O., Flores, D. D., Cu-Uvin, S., Nazareno, J., Operario, D., & Sison, O. (2023). Predictors of PrEP awareness, PrEP discussion and interest in long-acting injectable PrEP among Filipina transfeminine adults. Journal of the International AIDS Society, 26(6), e26080. https://doi.org/10.1002/jia2.26080
  2. Adia, A. C., Restar, A. J., Nazareno, J., Cayanan, J., Magante, K. A., Operario, D., & Ponce, N. A. (2022). Asian, Latinx, or Multiracial? Assessing Filipinxs’ Health Conditions and Outcomes by Aggregate Ethnic Category. Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities, 9(2), 406–412. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-021- 00971-3
  3. Restar, A., Surace, A., Adia, A., Goedel, W., Ogunbajo, A., Jin, H., Edeza, A., Hernandez, L., Cu-Uvin, S., & Operario, D. (2022). Characterizing Awareness of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV Prevention in Manila and Cebu, Philippines: Web-Based Survey of Filipino Cisgender Men Who Have Sex With Men. Journal of medical Internet research, 24(1), e24126. https://doi.org/10.2196/24126
  4. Restar, A. J., Ogunbajo, A., Adia, A., Chan, R. C. H., Nazareno, J., Hernandez, L., Sandfort, T., Lurie, M. N., Cu-Uvin, S., & Operario, D. (2022). Condom Use and Social Capital Among Filipinx Transgender Women and Cisgender Men Who Have Sex with Men (Trans-WSM and Cis-MSM): A Structural Equation Modeling. Sexuality Research and Social Policy. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-022-00703-0
  5. Restar, A. J., Quilantang, M. I. N., Surace, A., Ogunbajo, A., Chan, R., Adia, A., Cu-Uvin, S., & Operario, D. (2022). Characterizing Problematic Drug Use Among Transgender Women and Cisgender Men During the Emerging HIV Crisis in the Philippines: Implications for Policy Research. AIDS education and prevention : official publication of the International Society for AIDS Education, 34(2), 116–130. https://doi.org/10.1521/ aeap.2022.34.2.116
  6. Adia, A. C., Lee, C. J., Restar, A. J., Obiakor, B. C., Quilantang, M. I., Underhill, K., Nazareno, J., & Operario, D. (2021). Evaluating translation of HIV-related legal protections into practice: A qualitative assessment among HIV-positive gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men in Manila, Philippines. Critical Public Health, 31(5), 573–583. https://doi.org/10.1080/09581596.2020.1739226
  7. Nazareno, J., Yoshioka, E., Adia, A. C., Restar, A., Operario, D., & Choy, C. C. (2021). From imperialism to inpatient care: Work differences of Filipino and White registered nurses in the United States and implications for COVID-19 through an intersectional lens. Gender, work, and organization, 28(4), 1426–1446. https://doi. org/10.1111/gwao.12657
  8. Restar, A. J., Breslow, A. S., Jin, H., Quilantang, M. I., Sison, O., Bermudez, A. N., Palatino, M., Adia, A., Cu- Uvin, S., Operario, D., & Nazareno, J. (2021). Transgender-specific developmental milestones and associated experiences of violence, discrimination, and stigma among Filipinx transgender women who are sexually active with men. PloS one, 16(3), e0248248. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0248248
  9. Adia, A. C., Restar, A. J., Lee, C. J., Payawal, M. P., Quilantang, M. I., Nazareno, J., & Operario, D. (2020). Sword and Shield: Perceptions of law in empowering and protecting HIV-positive men who have sex with men in Manila, Philippines. Global public health, 15(1), 52–63. https://doi.org/10.1080/17441692.2019.1622762
  10. Carr, D. J., Adia, A. C., Wray, T. B., Celio, M. A., Pérez, A. E., & Monti, P. M. (2020). Using the Internet to access key populations in ecological momentary assessment research: Comparing adherence, reactivity, and erratic responding across those enrolled remotely versus in-person. Psychological assessment, 32(8), 768–779. https://doi.org/10.1037/pas0000847
  11. Restar, A., Ogunbajo, A., Adia, A., Nazareno, J., Hernandez, L., Sandfort, T., Lurie, M., Cu-Uvin, S., & Operario, D. (2020). Using structural equation modelling to characterise multilevel socioecological predictors and mediators of condom use among transgender women and cisgender men who have sex with men in the Philippines. BMJ global health, 5(7). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2020-002463
  12. Restar, A. J., Adia, A., Cu-Uvin, S., & Operario, D. (2020). Characterizing PrEP Awareness and Interest Among Filipina Transgender Women. AIDS education and prevention : official publication of the International Society for AIDS Education, 32(3), 212–228. https://doi.org/10.1521/aeap.2020.32.3.212
  13. Restar, A. J., Adia, A., Nazareno, J., Hernandez, L., Sandfort, T., Lurie, M., Cu-Uvin, S., & Operario, D. (2020). Barriers and facilitators to uptake of condoms among Filipinx transgender women and cisgender men who have sex with men: A situated socio-ecological perspective. Global public health, 15(4), 520–531. https: //doi.org/10.1080/17441692.2019.1679218
  14. Restar, A. J., Jin, H., Ogunbajo, A., Adia, A., Surace, A., Hernandez, L., Cu-Uvin, S., & Operario, D. (2020). Differences in HIV risk and healthcare engagement factors in Filipinx transgender women and cisgender men who have sex with men who reported being HIV negative, HIV positive or HIV unknown. Journal of the International AIDS Society, 23(8), e25582. https://doi.org/10.1002/jia2.25582
  15. Restar, A. J., Chan, R. C. H., Adia, A., Quilantang, M. I., Nazareno, J., Hernandez, L., Cu-Uvin, S., & Operario, D. (2020). Prioritizing HIV Services for Transgender Women and Men Who Have Sex With Men in Manila, Philippines: An Opportunity for HIV Provider Interventions. The Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care : JANAC, 31(4), 405–416. https://doi.org/10.1097/JNC.0000000000000131
  16. Adia, A. C., Hawley, N. L., Naseri, T., Reupena, M. S., & McGarvey, S. T. (2019). Tobacco smoking patterns in Samoa in 2010: Implications for interventions. Tobacco prevention & cessation, 5, 50. https://doi.org/10. 18332/tpc/114093
  17. Adia, A. C., Ng, M. J., Quilantang, M. I., Restar, A. J., Hernandez, L. I., Imperial, R. H., Nazareno, J., & Operario, D. (2019). Collective Coping Strategies for HIV-Related Challenges Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Manila, Philippines. AIDS education and prevention : official publication of the International Society for AIDS Education, 31(5), 479–490. https://doi.org/10.1521/aeap.2019.31.5.479
  18. Restar, A. J., Santamaria, E. K., Adia, A., Nazareno, J., Chan, R., Lurie, M., Sandfort, T., Hernandez, L., Cu-Uvin, S., & Operario, D. (2019). Gender affirmative HIV care framework: Decisions on feminizing hormone therapy (FHT) and antiretroviral therapy (ART) among transgender women. PloS one, 14(10), e0224133. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0224133
  19. Wray, T. B., Adia, A. C., Pérez, A. E., Simpanen, E. M., Woods, L.-A., Celio, M. A., & Monti, P. M. (2019). Timeline: A web application for assessing the timing and details of health behaviors. The American journal of drug and alcohol abuse, 45(2), 141–150. https://doi.org/10.1080/00952990.2018.1469138
  20. Wray, T. B., Pérez, A. E., Celio, M. A., Carr, D. J., Adia, A. C., & Monti, P. M. (2019). Exploring the Use of Smartphone Geofencing to Study Characteristics of Alcohol Drinking Locations in High-Risk Gay and Bisexual Men. Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research, 43(5), 900–906. https://doi.org/10.1111/acer.13991
  21. Adia, A. C., Bermudez, A. N. C., Callahan, M. W., Hernandez, L. I., Imperial, R. H., & Operario, D. (2018). ”An Evil Lurking Behind You”: Drivers, Experiences, and Consequences of HIV-Related Stigma Among Men Who Have Sex With Men With HIV in Manila, Philippines. AIDS education and prevention : official publication of the International Society for AIDS Education, 30(4), 322–334. https://doi.org/10.1521/aeap.2018.30.4.322
  22. Restar, A., Nguyen, M., Nguyen, K., Adia, A., Nazareno, J., Yoshioka, E., Hernandez, L., & Operario, D. (2018). Trends and emerging directions in HIV risk and prevention research in the Philippines: A systematic review of the literature. PloS one, 13(12), e0207663. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0207663
  23. Wray, T. B., Chan, P. A., Celio, M. A., Pérez, A. E., Adia, A. C., Simpanen, E. M., Woods, L.-A., & Monti, P. M. (2018). HIV Testing Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in the Northeastern United States. AIDS and behavior, 22(2), 531–537. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-017-1976-2

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