Publications

From policy briefs and amicus briefs to research papers and expert commentary, SPRING amplifies youth voices with rigorous, evidence-based analysis on the full range of issues shaping the next generation.

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A Review on the CMS and Peace Corps Matching Program
Center for Health and Society

A Review on the CMS and Peace Corps Matching Program

By Natalie Zhang, Abhi Bhambri, Samarth Pandey, Shivum Telang, Abhay Harika

In June 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed the establishment of a computer matching program with the Peace Corps to verify eligibility for Affordable Care Act premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions. The program will check Marketplace applicants against Peace Corps volunteer records, thus automatically disqualifying current and recently separated volunteers from receiving subsidies during their period of eligibility. This brief will explore the potential benefits and setbacks of the program, if implemented. It will evaluate the impact of the program on different groups of people and cover its likely implications. All in all, this program represents a meaningful addition to the overall goal of the ACA. It expands on its current eligibility verification infrastructure while keeping these additions modest and central to the CMS's goals. However, this program's ultimate effectiveness is contingent on consistent agency compliance, regular oversight, and strict care.

Public Comment on the European Union Critical Raw Materials Centre
Center for International Economics

Public Comment on the European Union Critical Raw Materials Centre

By Arik Karim, Karina Yue, Abhi Bhambri, Samarth Pandey, Shivum Telang, Ethan Cui, Videep Agarwal, Abhay Harika

The European Union's dependence on concentrated critical raw material supply chains – above all on China – has shifted from a long-recognised vulnerability to an active crisis. China's 2025 export restrictions on rare earth elements exposed the limits of the EU's existing policy toolkit: benchmarks without enforcement, matchmaking without contracts, and monitoring without purchasing power. The Critical Raw Materials Act and the RESourceEU Action Plan have established the right objectives but lack the institutional capacity to deliver them. This submission argues that the proposed Critical Raw Materials Centre represents a genuine opportunity to close that gap: but only if its founding regulation is built around binding commitment rather than voluntary coordination. Across all four strands, the difference between a Centre that works and one that merely convenes will be determined by legislative design choices made now. This submission, prepared by The SPRING Group, provides analysis and recommendations on joint purchasing, stockpiling, investment support, market intelligence, and governance, with particular attention to transparency, human rights due diligence, and SME access.

A Comprehensive Set of Policy Recommendations for Artificial Intelligence Integration into Education
Center for Natural & Artificial Intelligence

A Comprehensive Set of Policy Recommendations for Artificial Intelligence Integration into Education

By Natalie Zhang, William Zhang, Karina Yue, Dhruv Gupta, Vandana Ramanathan, Anshi Bhatt, Abhay Harika

In the past few years, the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a powerful force that cannot be underestimated. Many wonder how AI can be implemented in a way that will not only offer technological innovation and forward-thinking into society but also be used safely to minimize its potential threats. This brief starts with an analysis of the status quo concerning AI technologies and their relationships in the field of education, then provides curriculum-based policy recommendations and external policy recommendations to further the development of AI in a safe yet engaging manner.

Closing the Access Gap: Securing Stable Funding for Community Health Centers
Health Policy

Closing the Access Gap: Securing Stable Funding for Community Health Centers

By Natalie Zhang, Shivum Telang

Community health centers are the largest primary care system in the country, and they exist to reach the people the rest of the system reaches worst. These centers can treat everyone who walks in, regardless of ability to pay, because two federal streams underwrite the care. Mandatory funding through the Community Health Center Fund is set to expire on 31 December 2026, and Congress has kept it alive only through several short-term extensions rather than a stable multi-year authorization. The expiration of enhanced Marketplace subsidies adds still more uninsured patients whose care the centers must absorb without payment.

Standardizing Overdose Education for Patients Receiving Naloxone
Health Policy

Standardizing Overdose Education for Patients Receiving Naloxone

By Oliver Huang, Ronit Ginde

Naloxone is one of the most effective medications for preventing opioid overdose deaths. Over the past decade, every state has expanded access to naloxone through standing orders, pharmacy dispensing, or coprescribing laws. However, access alone is not enough. Many patients receive naloxone without learning how to recognize an overdose, administer the medication, perform rescue breathing, or know when to call emergency medical services. A standardized approach would improve patient preparedness while creating greater consistency across hospitals and pharmacies.

Mandating Pharmacy Co-Dispensing of Naloxone With High-Risk Opioid Prescriptions
Health Policy

Mandating Pharmacy Co-Dispensing of Naloxone With High-Risk Opioid Prescriptions

By Varun Mukund, Ronit Ginde

Naloxone is a proven medication that reverses opioid overdoses and reduces mortality when available to patients at risk. Yet access remains inconsistent. Although many states allow pharmacists to dispense naloxone, most systems rely on voluntary offering rather than automatic dispensing. Research shows that optional naloxone offering results in extremely low uptake among high risk patients. This memo recommends a pharmacy level naloxone co-dispensing requirement in which naloxone is automatically dispensed with high risk opioid prescriptions unless a patient opts out. Evidence from clinical studies shows that co-dispensing significantly reduces overdose related emergency department visits and improves patient safety.

The Regulatory Landscape of AI and Child Technology Products
Center for Digital Wellness

The Regulatory Landscape of AI and Child Technology Products

By Ali Naseem, Khadija Mohammed, Oliver Huang

Prepared for Boston Children's Hospital Digital Wellness Lab, this memo explains the regulatory landscape of AI and child tech products. Currently, the federal government has few regulations on the use of AI in child technology products. Lawsuits on AI chatbots, such as those involving Character AI, have made courts a regulator on AI and child tech products. In addition to lawsuits, state have proposed regulations for AI products, such as California’s LEAD for Kids Act. On a global level, entities, such as the European Union and the United Nations, also play a role in defining AI use with children.

A Comprehensive Analysis of Regulatory Policies in the U.S. Healthcare System
Health Policy

A Comprehensive Analysis of Regulatory Policies in the U.S. Healthcare System

By Natalie Zhang, William Zhang, Vyomini Vabilisetty, Subha Sundaram

Economic regulation in the healthcare industry has long been a subject of debate, balancing the need for affordability, competition, and innovation. Understanding these regulations is essential, as they directly impact both current and future generations. This paper analyzes the economic implications of regulation within the U.S. Healthcare industry, pulling from specific historical scenarios to analyze the benefits and harms of various viewpoints. This includes FTC antitrust laws, market-based price controls, and more.

An Economic Analysis of Global Trade on Monetary Policies in Emergency Markets and Economies
Center for Infrastructure and Economic Development

An Economic Analysis of Global Trade on Monetary Policies in Emergency Markets and Economies

By Natalie Zhang, Karina Yue, Abhi Bhambri

Over the past decade, emerging markets have demonstrated resilience and adaptability in the face of global inflation challenges. As these nations continue to adapt, their ability to navigate inflationary pressures positions them for long-term success in an evolving global economy. As part of our continued goal to highlight youth viewpoints on issues of concern to them, SPRING seeks to bring the unique perspectives of students into global policies to implement more sources of renewable energy. This paper analyzes how recent inflationary trends affect global trade policies within emerging markets, providing background information on three case studies in India, the Congo, and Mexico.

A Comprehensive Economic Analysis of Renewable Energy in the United States
Center for Infrastructure and Economic Development

A Comprehensive Economic Analysis of Renewable Energy in the United States

By Natalie Zhang, Creighton Getting, Mateen Hasan

Over the past decade, grand progress has been experienced regarding the adaptation and implementation of renewable sources of energy. To combat current reliance on fossil fuels, numerous organizations have promoted a transition into renewable energy. This paper analyzes the economic implications of renewable energy, pulling from four U.S. domestic policies that involve the integration of renewable energy.