Diagnosing the causes of mounting US health care costs and the disappointing health outcomes they produce is only the first step in finding better health policy solutions. Several promising lines of scholarly research suggest that key factors — including socioeconomic status, early childhood development, cognitive skills, personality traits, and behavioral economics — may be important determinants of long-term health status and should therefore be factored into policy solutions.

In many health “reform” discussions, we hear the same promises that are likely to produce the same unsatisfying results. Please join us for a broader exploration of targeted interventions that provide real promise for reducing health disparities, limiting or delaying the onset of chronic health conditions, and improving the performance of the US health care system.