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.
Supporting networks of state officials, advocates, and others aiming to invest in and transform primary care.
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 provide 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.
Upcoming and past 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 Article
September 2026 Brendan Saloner, Yngvild Olsen,
State governments play a central role in the delivery of substance use care in the United States, which has a profound impact on public health. More
July 2026 Sarah B. Windle, Peter M. Socha, Jasleen Arneja, Sam Harper, Genevieve Gore, Geneviéve Gariépy, Eva Graham, Andrea Benedetti, Arijit Nandi,
Substantial changes in cannabis policies are occurring globally; however, the impacts of these reforms on cannabis use, as well as downstream effects on other substance use, remain unclear. More
April 2026 Sage R. Feltus, Christina M. Andrews, Lauren Peterson, Colleen Grogan, Amanda J. Abraham, Olivia M. Hinds, Maureen T. Stewart,
Medicaid is the largest payer of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment in the United States. Managed care plays an important role, administering benefits for more than 80% of Medicaid enrollees. While state governments have enacted coverage requirements for SUD treatment medications that managed care plans must follow, the extent to which managed care coverage policies align with these rules remains largely unknown. More
October 2025 STEPHAN R. LINDNER, JENNIFER HALL, BRYNNA MANIBUSAN, JORDAN BYERS, KYLE HART, ANDREA BARON, Dennis McCarty, K. John McConnell, Deborah J. Cohen,
Starting in 2015, states could apply for section 1115 substance use disorder (SUD) waivers to strengthen their continuum of care for treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD). More
October 2025 Spruha Joshi, Victoria A. Jent, Sneha M. Sunder, Katherine Wheeler-Martin, Magdalena Cerdá,
See all articles in the special issue, Mental Health and Substance Use Challenges Facing the United States: What Can State Policymakers… More
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 ASHLY E. JORDAN, RABIAH GAYNOR, CAROL MOORES, YOLANDA CANTY, CHINAZO O. CUNNINGHAM,
In the United States, substance use disorder (SUD) is a significant public health and public safety challenge. Up to two-thirds of individuals who are incarcerated meet SUD criteria, compared with 16.7% of the general population. More
July 2025 BRANDON D. L. MARSHALL, Kristen Pendergrass, Sara Whaley,
The US overdose crisis is one of the most severe and devastating public health problems of the 21st century. Since 1999, more than one million Americans have lost their lives to accidental drug overdose. More
July 2025 Hannah L.F. Cooper, Anna L. Mullany, Snigdha Peddireddy, Simone Wien, Melvin "Doug" Livingston, Whitney S. Rice, Anne L. Dunlop, Michael R. Kramer, Madison Haiman, Lasha S. Clarke, Natalie D. Hernandez-Green, Angélica Meinhofer,
Pregnant and postpartum people who use drugs (PWUDs) live at the intersection of two of the gravest public health crises currently facing the United States: epidemics of (1) maternal morbidity and mortality, and (2) substance-related harms. More
July 2025 Noa Krawczyk, Hillary Samples,
The United States is facing an ongoing mental health and substance use crisis. In 2023, 58.7 million US adults had a past-year mental illness, 46.3 million had a substance use disorder (SUD), and 20.4 million had both. More