The late Uwe Reinhardt was awarded the Chair Award by AcademyHealth, the country’s leading national organization for health services researchers, policymakers, and health care practitioners. The Chair Award recognizes a national leader who has significantly contributed to moving health services research into policy and practice. It is among AcademyHealth’s highest honors, equaled only by the Distinguished Investigator Award, which Reinhardt received in 2004.

Tsung-Mei Cheng, health policy research analyst at Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, accepted the award on her late husband’s behalf. It was presented at AcademyHealth’s National Health Policy Conference Feb. 5-6 in Washington, D.C. AcademyHealth also has established a new lectureship in Reinhardt’s name.

On Feb. 1, Reinhardt also received recognition by Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare. They awarded him the First Grade Medal for Professionalism in Health and Welfare for his contributions to health policy in Taiwan. The Ministry also honored Cheng with the Second Grade Medal for Professionalism in Health and Welfare for her significant scholarly contributions to raising awareness of Taiwan’s high-performing single-payer universal health care system. Both Reinhardt and Cheng have made significant contributions to Taiwan’s National Health Insurance (NHI) system. Reinhardt had recommended the single-payer system to Taiwan’s government in 1989 when Taiwan was planning to introduce a universal health coverage scheme.

Reinhardt had previously been honored by with the 2015 Presidential Medal from the president of the Republic of China in Taipei, Taiwan. For his remarkable contributions to the national health insurance system, he received the Order of Brilliant Star with Violet Grand Cordon. This honor is given by the Republic of China for outstanding contributions to the development of the nation.