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 Article
September 2026 Steven H. Woolf,
US life expectancy is shorter than in other high-income countries, and the gap has widened over time. More
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
September 2026 Sara Rosenbaum,
Beginning in 2025, longstanding opponents of vaccines have held the highest positions of federal public health policy powers. More
September 2026 Mary-Margaret A. Fill, William Schaffner,
Over the last decade, the United States has encountered numerous infectious disease-related public health threats, observed declines in life expectancy and childhood vaccination rates, and experienced rapid changes and reorganizations to the domestic public health system. More
September 2026 Jennifer Karas Montez, Jacob M. Grumbach,
American federalism involves decentralized policymaking across federal, state, and local governments. More
August 2026 Lucinda B. Leung, Valerie P. Nguyen, Christine M. Thompson, Jasmeen J. Santos, Catherine E. Brayton, Susan L. Ettner, José J. Escarce, Alexander D. McCourt,
Telehealth can improve access to medical and mental health care for rural and under-resourced communities. More
July 2026 Harold A. Pollack, Richard Frank, Sherry Glied,
Since the early 1960s, US policymakers have sought to assist persons living with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) and persons living with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) to live on a human scale with their clinical and service needs met in their communities. More
Quarterly Opinion
June 2026 Pauline J. Lapin, Laurie McWright,
Federal, state, and local governments have increasingly focused on innovation, hiring Chief Innovation or Technology Officers to find solutions to improve the delivery of benefits and services and to address unresolved health care issues. More
June 2026 Alina Salganicoff, Ivette Gomez, Usha Ranji,
Access to sexual and reproductive health care varies widely by geography, and state-level policies play a major role in establishing the contours that govern the coverage, provision, availability, and costs of services. More
June 2026 Amy Belflower Thomas, Reena Chudgar, Whitney Magendie, Megan McClaire, Joneigh S. Khaldun,
The US public health system is facing an inflection point characterized by chronic underinvestment, workforce and service delivery challenges, outdated data infrastructure, growing health inequities, and increasing instability within the broader health care safety net including projected Medicaid coverage changes and continued rural hospital closures. More