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.
Quarterly Topic
Quarterly Opinion
August 2026 Andrew Anderson,
Since passage of the American Rescue Plan Act in 2021, the United States has made significant investments in behavioral health crisis response… More
Quarterly Article
September 2025 Beth McGinty, Pradhyumna Wagle, Christie Lee Luo, Nicholas J. Seewald, Elizabeth A. Stuart, Kayla N. Tormohlen,
State medical cannabis laws, currently in place in 39 states and Washington, DC, provide an avenue for therapeutic use of cannabis to manage chronic noncancer pain stemming from conditions such as arthritis and low back pain. More
August 2025 David H. Jernigan,
Alcohol is a causal factor in more than 200 disease and injury conditions in the human body. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) define excessive drinking as binge drinking (4 or more drinks for women, 5 or more for men on one occasion in the past month), heavy drinking (8 or more drinks for women, 15 or more for men in a week), and any drinking during pregnancy or by persons younger than age 21 years. More
April 2025 Andrew Anderson, Jacob Jorem,
By continuing to innovate their crisis response and prevention capabilities, states have a unique opportunity to address persistent behavioral health crises and the disparities that drive them. More
April 2025 Harold A. Pollack, Marissa “Mari” Mackiewicz, Soham Sinha,
Given common physiological and social changes associated with aging, older adults face greater risks of substance-related harms than do younger adults who experience the same patterns of substance use. More
July 2024 Briana S. Last, Erika L. Crable,
Demand for behavioral health services in the United States far outpaced supply before the coronavirus pandemic, but the past several years have… More
November 2019 Jonathan Purtle, Félice Lê-Scherban, Xi Wang, Paul T. Shattuck, Enola K. Proctor, Ross C. Brownson,
This study finds that legislators’ opinions about the impact of parity laws on access to care, and the effectiveness of behavioral health treatment, have greater influence on support for the laws than political party affiliation or state-level contextual factors such as unemployment rates. More