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.
State Network
Blog Post
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
July 2025 Christopher F. Koller, Morgan McDonald,
Liz Reyer ran for state representative in Minnesota to change things for the better, not to fear for her life or those of her family members. But the murder of her fellow representative and party leader Melissa Hortman and her husband, and the shooting of her cross-chamber colleague Sen. John Hofmann and his wife, on June 15 has brought the unthinkable to the realm of the possible. More
Publication
June 2025 Mary Louise Gilburg, Morgan McDonald,
The Milbank State Leadership Network hosted a virtual session for state legislators and legislative staff to discuss factors contributing to rising health care costs as well as opportunities for states to slow spending growth and make health care more affordable, with a particular focus on hospital costs. The briefing was hosted in partnership with Bailit Health, the technical assistance provider for the Peterson-Milbank Program for Sustainable Healthcare 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 Craig Wilson, Joseph W. Thompson ,
Whether states adopt work requirements voluntarily or implement them pursuant to a federal requirement, they have the advantage of being able to learn from the problems encountered by Arkansas, the first state to implement a Medicaid work requirement. More
May 2025 Christopher F. Koller,
Public acts of violence are harmful to viewers as well as victims, particularly when the victims are powerless. They can leave witnesses helpless and… More
News Article
April 2025
Engaging policymakers with authority over population health funding and policies in leadership development has great potential to depolarize issues… More
April 2025 Sofia Espinosa, Morgan McDonald,
The Milbank State Leadership Network hosted a virtual session for state legislators and legislative staff to hear directly from state and local public health officials on the impact of funding and federal program staffing cuts to core services. More
April 2025 Morgan McDonald,
As health departments brace for potential additional funding losses, Morgan McDonald calls on state and local staff and policymakers on all sides of the aisle to communicate the impact of the cuts, particularly with their federal delegations. More
April 2025 Jennifer Avegno,
With federal funding cuts affecting local health departments, running a strong ground game is more challenging now than ever. More
