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.
Publication Topic
Publication
July 2026 Hayley Piazza,
Introduction Housing instability and unaffordability are contributing to adverse outcomes across a wide range of health domains. In a Milbank… More
July 2026 Alida Austin, Katie M. Huber, Brianna Van Stekelenburg, Kody H. Kinsley, Rebecca G. Whitaker,
North Carolina’s Healthy Opportunities Pilots (HOP) program, which was paused in July 2025 due to state funding constraints, tested whether providing evidence-based services to address upstream drivers of health for eligible Medicaid members could improve health outcomes, reduce costs, and address disparities in three predominantly rural regions of the state. More
News Article
February 2026 Mary Louise Gilburg,
In January 2026, William H. Foege, a former Centers for Disease and Control Prevention director who helped develop the smallpox vaccine strategy that… More
November 2025 Annie Cloke, Margarita Hart, Janée Tyus, Dawn Alley, Shreya Kangovi,
Community health workers, promotores, and community health representatives have historically relied on a patchwork of grants for funding, but more than half of state Medicaid programs have now implemented some form of CHW/P/CHR coverage and payment policy. This toolkit provides model language for state Medicaid leaders and CHW/P/CHR advocates to use as they develop State Plan Amendments and accompanying guidance documents to establish coverage and payment for CHW/P/CHR services. More
Blog Post
October 2025 Erin Taylor, Matthew Reynolds,
This post describes ways states can safeguard and promote health equity alongside their efforts to make health care more affordable, particularly for those who bear the greatest burden of high and rising health care costs. The post identifies four overarching approaches states can take. More
October 2025 Jessica McCann, Margaret Flinter,
Decades of research confirms the safety, quality, and effectiveness of care provided by NPs, including care for complex patients, and their acceptance and approval by patients. Yet challenges remain in recruiting and retaining NPs in primary care. More
Event
September 2025 Mary Louise Gilburg,
Structural determinants of health are hierarchical patterns of advantage among socially constructed groups that affect health outcomes. Unlike social… More
August 2025 Joanne Kenen,
How can policymakers and institutions of higher learning comply with the law — and acknowledge the political climate — and still develop the high quality, excellent, and diverse health workforces that the country needs? More
July 2025 Zakiya Summers,
A Mississippi state legislator on why a new state law to dismantle DEI in education will silence students, bully educators, and restrict progress. More
May 2025 Casey Balio, Nicole Galler, Nathan Dockery, Michael Meit,
To identify areas with high need, area-level vulnerability and resilience indices (ALVRIs) have been developed to create composite need scores based on combined underlying measures. Federal, state, and local agencies, as well as philanthropies, are using ALVRIs as data-driven strategies to better allocate resources and improve outcomes. More