Background
Dr. Imani Okafor is a health economist at the Calder Institute who studies hospital pricing, insurer consolidation, and what patients actually pay after the discounts evaporate. She has testified before two Senate committees and spent five years inside a national payer before moving to research, so she can read a rate filing the way reporters read a police blotter.
She answers deadline requests the same day, will say "the data doesn't show that" when it doesn't, and keeps a current set of charts on price transparency compliance that newsrooms are welcome to cite with attribution.
Based in Chicago. Available by phone, video, or written statement.
On the record
“Hospital list prices are an opening bid no one is expected to pay — except the uninsured, who pay it most often.”
Dr. Imani Okafor · The Washington Post · 2026
“Okafor is the first call on any pricing story because she reads the filings before she has an opinion.”
Health desk editor · KFF Health News · 2025
Source kit
Cleared for editorial use with attribution. No further permission needed.
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Reach the source
Deadline requests answered same day. Name your outlet and the story you are working.