Health Economist

Hinge Health; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage

401k retirement plan with company match

Learning and development stipends

Job summary

A digital health company in San Francisco seeks a Health Economist to design ROI studies demonstrating the effectiveness of their platform. The role involves translating complex data into actionable insights for commercial success. Ideal candidates have a graduate degree and 3-5 years of experience using econometric methods in healthcare. Knowledge of claims databases and programming skills in R, SQL, and Python are essential. Competitive benefits and a focus on inclusive healthcare are offered.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in health economics, health services research, epidemiology, or related field.
• 3-5 years experience with applied econometric methods addressing healthcare cost questions.
• Fluent programming skills in R, SQL, and Python.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute ROI studies demonstrating platform effectiveness.
• Lead claims-based ROI studies and present findings.
• Own health economics research agenda for specific MSK conditions.

Skills

Applied econometric methods

Programming in R, SQL, Python

Experience with claims databases

Data manipulation and visualization

Understanding of medical billing practices

Education

Graduate degree in health economics or related field

Tools

Databricks

Snowflake

Job description

The Opportunity

Healthcare costs are rising, and employers and health plans need proof that digital MSK solutions deliver measurable savings. As a Health Economist at Hinge Health, you'll be the analytical engine behind our commercial success—designing and executing rigorous ROI studies that demonstrate how our platform transforms member outcomes while reducing costs for over 20 million lives. You'll translate complex claims data into compelling narratives that close deals, inform product strategy, and publish groundbreaking research that positions Hinge Health as the evidence-based leader in digital MSK care.

What You'll Accomplish

In your first 3 months, you will:

• Build relationships with Client Success, Marketing, and Commercial teams to understand their analytical needs and prioritize high‑impact ROI studies
• Audit existing health economics methodologies and identify opportunities to streamline study designs while maintaining rigor
• Complete your first client‑facing cost analysis, presenting preliminary findings to internal stakeholders

In your first 6 months, you will:

• Lead end‑to‑end execution of claims‑based ROI studies, including vendor coordination for data acquisition, data transformation in SQL/Python, and analysis using advanced econometric methods
• Partner with Client Success teams to present study results to external clients (health plan analysts, actuaries), translating technical findings into actionable insights
• Contribute to clinical study design by identifying key health economics endpoints and measurement strategies

In your first year, you will:

• Own the health economics research agenda for a specific MSK condition or product line (e.g., chronic back pain, women's pelvic health), acting as the go‑to expert for commercial teams
• Publish at least one peer‑reviewed manuscript or conference presentation that elevates Hinge Health's thought leadership in digital health economics
• Build reusable data pipelines from Hinge Health's claims and EHR warehouse (Databricks) that reduce study turnaround time by 30%

Who You Are

A Learn‑it‑all: You stay on the cutting edge of MSK and digital health research, constantly refining your methods and bringing new ideas to the team.

You don't just replicate studies—you improve them.

A Translator: You fluently speak both "data science" and "business," effortlessly moving between technical discussions with actuaries and strategic conversations with commercial leaders.

You know when to prioritize speed over perfection to meet commercial deadlines.

Accountable: You balance multiple competing priorities—ad hoc client requests, long‑term research projects, and internal cross‑functional needs—without dropping the ball.

You meet commitments and communicate proactively when timelines shift.

Hustler with Rigor: You find creative solutions to data limitations and study design challenges, always delivering defensible, high‑quality results that can withstand external scrutiny.

Basic Requirements

• Graduate degree (Master's or PhD) in health economics, health services research, epidemiology, or a related quantitative field
• 3‑5 years of experience using applied econometric methods (e.g., causal inference, cost‑effectiveness analysis, budget impact modeling) to address healthcare cost questions
• 3‑5 years of hands‑on experience working with large‑scale commercial, Medicare, or Medicaid claims databases, including understanding of medical billing practices and health insurance structures
• Fluent programming skills in R, SQL, and/or Python for data manipulation, statistical analysis, and visualization

Preferred Requirements

• PhD in health economics or health services research
• 2‑5 years of experience with Databricks, Snowflake, or similar cloud‑based data platforms
• Prior publication record in peer‑reviewed journals (Health Affairs, Medical Care, JAMA) or experience presenting at academic/industry conferences
• Experience in digital health or MSK care, including familiarity with value‑based care models and population health analytics
• Familiarity with AI tools (Claude, GitHub Copilot) for accelerating code development and data analysis

About Hinge Health

At Hinge Health, we're using technology to scale and automate the delivery of healthcare – starting with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions, which affect over 1.7 billion people worldwide. With an AI‑powered human‑centered care model, Hinge Health leverages cutting‑edge technology to improve outcomes, experiences and costs to help people move beyond their pain. The platform addresses a broad spectrum of MSK care – from acute injury, to chronic pain, to post‑surgical rehabilitation – through personalized, evidence‑based care. As the preferred partner to 50+ health plans, PBMs and other ecosystem partners, Hinge Health is available to over 20 million people across more than 2,550 employers. The company is headquartered in San Francisco with additional offices in Montreal and Bangalore. Learn more at http://www.hingehealth.com

What You'll Love About Us

• Inclusive healthcare and benefits: On top of comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, we offer employees and their family members help with gender‑affirming care, tools for family and fertility planning, and travel reimbursements if healthcare isn't available where you live.
• Planning for the future: Start saving for the future with our traditional or Roth 401k retirement plan options which include a 2% company match.
• Modern life stipends: Manage your own learning and development

Culture & Engagement

Hinge Health is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. We make employment decisions without regards to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability status, pregnancy, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. We provide reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities. If you feel you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, let us know by reaching out to your recruiter.

By submitting your application you are acknowledging we are using your personal data as outlined in the personnel and candidate privacy policy.

Beware of Phishing Attempts: We've noticed an increase in phishing where fraudsters impersonate employees and send fake job offers to steal sensitive information. We'll never ask for financial details during the hiring process and only use "@hingehealth.com" emails. If you receive a suspicious offer, stop communication and report it to the US FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center. To verify an email from our recruiting team, forward it to [e-mail].