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

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

Many health providers are interested in making the shift to value-based payment (VBP), as these models can give greater flexibility in providing whole-person care, but administrative burden, variation in payer contracts, and a rapidly changing policy environment can impede their participation and success in these models. Streamlining the administration of payment models and adding supports like data sharing across payers and providers can make it easier for organizations by enabling more flexibility in care delivery, timely access to actionable information, and increased support for the health care workforce. More

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

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

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

Abstract The United States ranks below peer nations on many measures of health status, health care access and quality, and health outcomes while spending significantly more on health care. This combination of factors has driven an effort to better align resources with need to address health disparities and use funds more efficiently. To identify areas […] More

Public acts of violence are harmful to viewers as well as victims, particularly when the victims are powerless. They can leave witnesses helpless and angry at the dehumanization that is occurring. It is worse when the government is inflicting the harm.  The announcement on April 11 by the Department of Justice that it would abandon a […] More

Engaging policymakers with authority over population health funding and policies in leadership development has great potential to depolarize issues and improve health outcomes. In a March 12, 2025, article in the American Journal of Public Health, Milbank Memorial Fund Director of Population Health Morgan McDonald, MD, shows how the Fund’s two nonpartisan legislative and executive […] More

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