The Fund supports networks of state health policy decision makers to help identify, inspire, and inform policy leaders.
A bipartisan group of state health policymakers from both the executive and legislative branches who are focused on improving population health.
Networks of state officials, advocates, and others aiming to invest in and transform primary care.
A program dedicated to advancing state-based efforts to make health care more affordable for residents, employers, and states.
The Milbank Memorial Fund supports two state leadership programs for legislative and executive branch state government officials committed to improving population health.
A leadership development program for early and mid-career state government officials who are committed to improving the health of all people in their communities.
A leadership program for senior state government officials who are committed to improving population health.
The Fund focuses on creating an affordable health care system built on strong primary care and partnerships that improve health outcomes for all.
Improving state leaders’ ability to enact and implement evidence-based health policies.
Advancing policies that create a more prevention- and primary care-oriented health system.
Improving population health through policies that contain health care cost growth.
Our state health policy resources offer relevant data analysis and best practices.
The Fund publishes reports, issues briefs, and case studies on state health policy issues.
Short takes on health policy issues from Milbank staff and guest authors.
Insights from Milbank President Debra Lubar on state health policymaking.
Reported articles and Q&As on timely health policy issues, as well as foundation updates.
Milbank Memorial Fund and Milbank Quarterly webinars featuring state health policymakers and researchers.
Updates and expert contact information for reporters.
The Milbank Memorial Fund is a private foundation that works to improve population health and health equity.
Focus Area
Blog Post
October 2026 Monica O’Reilly-Jacob, Jennifer Perloff,
In this post, we highlight the nurse practitioner practice owners’ unique contributions and challenges in providing primary care in rural areas. We offer state policy recommendations to support rural NP-owned practices, including leveraging funds from the Rural Health Transformation Program. More
Publication
October 2026 Rebecca S. Etz, Conor M. C. Duffy, Brooke Bishop, Martha M. Gonzalez, Bernard Ewigman, Kurt C. Stange,
Primary care clinicians have made significant changes to their practice since the Advisory Committee of Immunization Practices revised its adult and pediatric vaccine recommendations, according to new findings from Larry A. Green Center Flash Survey of US primary care clinicians. More
September 2026 Aamir Mansoor, Joe Telano,
A new report from the Primary Care Development Corporation (PCDC), developed with input from the Primary Care Investment Network (PCIN), examines how states are using APCD and other data strategies to advance primary care investment. More
September 2026 Monica O’Reilly-Jacob, David Auerbach, Alex Hoyt, Hilary Barnes, Bethany A. Croke, Victoria Winogora, Susan Kelly-Weeder, Sean Clarke,
This analysis considers the impact of the profession’s rapid growth on access to high-quality primary care, particularly in safety net settings, where NPs already play an outsized role in care delivery. More
September 2026 Erin Fraher, Andreas Stomby,
In the absence of a national health workforce strategy in the United States, individual states, including Missouri, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, have developed and implemented state-level graduate medical education (GME) strategies to “grow their own” primary care workforce. The challenge will be diffusing the lessons learned from their efforts across states. More
July 2026 Lori Rodefeld, Raquel Davis, Erin Fraher, Heidi B. Miller, Shelby Rimmler-Cohen, Mary Alice Scott, Mukesh Adhikari, Emily M. Hawes,
Physician workforce shortages are limiting access to health care in nearly every state, with underserved and rural areas facing the greatest shortfalls. More
June 2026 André Nogueira, Natalia Barolín, Sarah Szanton,
The fragmented multi-payer system in the United States creates powerful disincentives against the evidence-based interventions most likely to improve health and control costs: universal, prevention-centered care delivered where people live, work, and gather. More
April 2026 Miriam Sheinbein, Chris Esguerra, Colleen Murphey, Luarnie Bermudo, Mat Thomas,
Health systems that invest in primary care have better and more equitable health outcomes. Yet primary care faces a crisis (characterized by chronic underinvestment and significant workforce shortages), and that crisis has led to pervasive clinician burnout and reduced access to vital care, especially for populations who have a low income, are elderly, and identify as minorities. More
April 2026 Lori Rodefeld, Emily M. Hawes, Raquel Davis, Shelby Rimmler-Cohen, Heidi B. Miller, Mary Alice Scott, Mukesh Adhikari, Erin Fraher,
This evidence-based framework organizes a GME growth strategy into five iterative stages: exploration, strategy development, strategy design, technical assistance, and optimization. More
March 2026 Kevin Grumbach, Deborah J. Cohen, Stephanie B. Gold, Rebecca S. Etz, Lauren S. Hughes , Robert L. Phillips, Andrew Bazemore, Elisabeth Wilson, Russell S. Phillips,
Despite a robust body of evidence demonstrating that strong primary care is foundational to a high-performing health system associated with improved… More