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
June 2026 John E. McDonough,
I’ve been examining how public policies have facilitated the transformation of America’s health and medical care systems into today’s financialized and commercialized realities. More
Quarterly Article
May 2026 Nancy Karreman, Marco Zenone, Nason Maani, Benjamin Hawkins,
The global wellness industry has multifaceted impacts on health and well-being, including through the sale and consumption of wellness products, the provision of health information to consumers, and the promotion of specific norms and values. Despite its growing prominence, the wellness industry and its impacts on health and policymaking remain understudied. This article examines how the wellness industry operates as a commercial, social, and political determinant of health. More
February 2026 Ashley N. Gearhardt, Kelly D. Brownell, Allan M. Brandt,
Ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) now dominate the global food supply and are strongly associated with risks for heart disease, cancers, metabolic disease, diabetes, and obesity. UPFs are likely associated with rates of neurologic issues such as dementia and Parkinson’s disease and predict premature death. More
July 2025 Jennifer Lacy-Nichols, Hedeeyeh Baradar, Eric Crosbie, Katherine Cullerton,
Information about lobbying is crucial to alert the public about undue influence in government decision making. Yet, government disclosures of lobbying activities are rare internationally and vary considerably in their completeness and accessibility. Building on a framework to measure lobbying transparency, this study benchmarked national government disclosures to understand what information was shared and to develop recommendations to strengthen political transparency. More
June 2025 Raquel Burgess, Tanja Srebotnjak, Christine Lin, Lawrence Grierson, Daniel C. Esty, Yusuf Ransome, Nicholas Freudenberg,
This article seeks to advance discussion on two key priorities related to the commercial determinants of health (CDH): 1) the development of mechanisms to measure and monitor the practices of commercial entities, and 2) the development of effective policy recommendations for addressing the CDH. More
January 2024 Holly Chung, Katherine Cullerton, Jennifer Lacy-Nichols,
A comparison of lobbing spending and spending trends among four industries that affect public health. More
October 2023 Eduardo J. Gómez, Nason Maani, Sandro Galea,
Understanding the political and social conditions needed for government to establish corporate incentive structures designed to improve health. More
April 2023 Nicholas Freudenberg,
The commercial determinants of health (CDH) framework can inform public health policy, practice, and research in ways that contribute to overcoming the world’s most serious public health challenges. More
May 2022 Alex C. Liber,
Context: The effects of commerce on the public health are omnipresent. The commercial determinants of health (CDoH) represent a burgeoning area of… More
March 2021 Nason Maani, May CI Van Schalkwyk, Mark Petticrew, Sandro Galea,
The United States finds itself amid three concurrent and interrelated crises. First, at the time of writing, the United States has reported more than… More