State Health Policy Leadership

New research published in “The Milbank Quarterly” that finds Medicaid block grants could lead community health centers lose over $7 billion by 2024 should give pause to supporters of block grants, says former director of the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services Jennifer Lee, MD, in a Milbank blog post. More

In a new “Milbank Quarterly” guest opinion, Delaware’s Health and Human Services Secretary Kara Odom Walker says that any solution that lowers health care costs and improves quality will require a foundation of enhanced primary care. More

In 2018, nearly five years after the launch of a federal demonstration program designed to coordinate care for people who are dually eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, the participation rate was low and varied widely by state. To discover the secrets to successful enrollment in states like Ohio, Mathematica conducted a study of how state program design, concurrent state programs and policies, health plan markets, and other factors affected enrollment over time in all 10 participating states. More

In exchange for billions of dollars each year in tax exemptions, nonprofit hospitals are required to invest in the health of their communities.… More

“My, how you are aging! So what are your plans for the future?” This is hardly considered an appropriate way to start a conversation with… More

Family and unpaid caregivers play a foundational role in the care of older adults with complex health needs and disabling conditions. In a new report cosponsored by The John A. Hartford Foundation and the Milbank Memorial Fund, researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health highlight five states—Washington, Hawaii, Maine, Minnesota, and Tennessee—that have advanced policies and programs in support of family caregivers. More

In a new report cosponsored by The John A. Hartford Foundation and the Milbank Memorial Fund, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researchers highlight five states—Washington, Hawaii, Maine, Minnesota, and Tennessee— that have advanced policies and programs in support of family caregivers. More

In this issue brief, John Kitzhaber, MD, former governor of Oregon, and Bruce Goldberg, MD, former director of the Oregon Office for Health Policy and Research, outline why strong Medicaid management matters. Speaking directly to governors, the authors spell out why greater state investment in Medicaid administration is critical to attracting and retaining the talent needed to ensure that the program is flexible and innovative, fiscally responsible, and stable. More