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
News Article
April 2026 Morgan McDonald,
Last month, Milbank National Director for Population Health Morgan McDonald, MD, and Morissa Henn, DrPH, Deputy Commissioner, New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, met to discuss how Henn has applied the principles of adaptive leadership to her work. More
Publication
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
Blog Post
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
March 2026 Morgan McDonald,
In January, Minnesota launched its paid family and medical leave program, making it one of 13 states with a statewide paid leave program in place or in process. For this Q&A, Milbank’s National Director for Population Health, Morgan McDonald, MD, talked with the legislation’s sponsors, Former Rep. Ruth Richardson, an alumna of the Emerging Leaders Program, and Sen. Alice Mann, MD, an alumna of the Milbank Fellows Program, about their motivations and approach to passing the bill. Both interviewees highlighted how their ongoing communication with each other and with the members of a large and diverse coalition — as well as their use of both storytelling and data — led to this investment in Minnesota’s families and businesses. (Watch a video of the interview at right.) More
Event
March 2026
Join us for a Milbank Quarterly webinar to discuss research on ultraprocessed foods (UPFs), lessons from tobacco prevention and control efforts, and steps to restrict UPFs in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). More
March 2026 Margaret Koller, Joe Brecht,
Which pregnant women are most likely to rely on emergency department care, and how can they be better served? How did COVID-19 affect birth outcomes, and what would support improvements in future infectious disease outbreaks? These and other questions can be answered with existing state data when these data are integrated. More
February 2026 Debra Lubar,
I was raised in a football family. Not that anyone played. We were Washington, DC NFL fans, with Sundays consumed by the team now called the… More
January 2026
Long concerned about the impact of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) on pharmaceutical prices, Milbank’s Emerging Leaders Program alumna Kim Chen developed and helped pass 2025 state budget legislation to create licensure for these entities. More
January 2026 Joanne Kenen,
The potential implications of the federal government’s shifting approach to shared decision-making for children’s immunizations. More
January 2026 Morgan McDonald,
Yesterday, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced changes to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) childhood immunization recommendations, reducing the number of recommended vaccinations from 17 to 11 More