The Fund supports networks of state health policy decision makers to help identify, inspire, and inform policy leaders.
The Milbank Memorial Fund supports two state leadership programs for legislative and executive branch state government officials committed to improving population health.
The Fund identifies and shares policy ideas and analysis to advance state health leadership, strong primary care, and sustainable health care costs.
Keep up with news and updates from the Milbank Memorial Fund. And read the latest blogs from our thought leaders, including Fund President Christopher F. Koller.
The Fund publishes The Milbank Quarterly, as well as reports, issues briefs, and case studies on topics important to health policy leaders.
The Milbank Memorial Fund is is a foundation that works to improve population health and health equity.
August 2025 Rachel Block,
The passage of HR1/OBBB, the 2025 budget reconciliation law, is expected to lead to the loss of coverage for 16 million Americans and lower revenue… More
August 2025 Annie Cloke, Janée Tyus,
Health insurance coverage for 1 in 5 Americans is at risk as states respond to changes included in HR1/OBBB. These changes follow significant cuts to federal public health funding. Because state Medicaid agencies will have to do more with less, they will need to focus on policies and cost-effective programs with demonstrated results — and may want to consider investing in community health worker (CHW) programs. More
August 2025 Monica O’Reilly-Jacob, Kyle Featherston, Lusine Poghosyan,
The number of nurse practitioners (NPs) in the United States quadrupled from 91,000 in 2007 to 431,000 in 2024. But does this remarkable growth result in improved access to primary care where it is needed most? More
July 2025 Zakiya Summers,
A Mississippi state legislator on why a new state law to dismantle DEI in education will silence students, bully educators, and restrict progress. More
July 2025 Micaela Camozzi,
I moved to Atlanta in August 2024 to begin my dream job at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). After making it to the semi-finalist… More
July 2025 Shannon Dowler,
People of every gender, race, age, and ethnicity are affected by sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Currently, the United States is experiencing the largest epidemic of congenital syphilis since the 1990s, with thousands of babies being born with the potential for lifelong disabilities and death each year. On the other end of the life spectrum, the 60-plus crowd is moving into retirement communities with the most rapidly rising rates of STIs of any age group. More
June 2025 Jessica Mar, Sarah Kinsler,
In 2024 and 2025, Bailit Health convened two work groups to establish consensus definitions and methodologies for health care spending analyses with support from the Peterson-Milbank Program for Sustainable Health Care Costs. More
June 2025 Lauren Christiansen-Lindquist,
The health and well-being of all Americans — but especially women and babies — relies on timely and accurate data. Pregnancy and early childhood are particularly vulnerable periods that require careful monitoring, support, and response. The more up-to-date information we have, the better chance we have of preventing unnecessary deaths, building healthy families, and setting children up for success. Yet, US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy’s changes to the agency eliminated the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Reproductive Health, among other divisions, almost entirely. More
June 2025 Grace Flaherty, Michael Bailit,
Health care affordability is a key concern for state agencies and policymakers looking to ensure access to care without creating undue financial burdens on patients, employer purchasers, and states. But affordability means different things to different stakeholders. For consumers, it might mean whether they can pay out-of-pocket costs without skipping care. For employers, it may mean health plan premium increases that don’t cut into their margins and/or reduce the ability offer competitive wages. For state officials, it might mean balancing the state budget by managing Medicaid and state employee health plan spending. More
June 2025 Eric T. Roberts, Narda Ipakchi, Josh Kramer,
The US House of Representatives–passed tax bill includes a provision that would delay implementation of a federal regulation designed to reduce paperwork burdens that limit older adults’ access to benefits. More
