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.
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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.
June 2024 (Volume 102)
Quarterly Article
Laura M. Gottlieb
Danielle Hessler
Holly Wing
Alejandra Gonzalez-Rocha
Yuri Cartier
Caroline Fichtenberg
December 2025
Mental Health and Substance Use Challenges
Back to The Milbank Quarterly
Policy Points:
Over the last decade, health care sector activities related to identifying and addressing patients’ social drivers of health have graduated from being innovative and leading-edge practices to being norms and expectations. Key examples include policies from health care payers and professional standard–setting organizations—including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the National Committee for Quality Assurance, and The Joint Commission—signaling that standardized social risk screening and, in some cases, navigation to social services, are now considered a basic standard of care.1 The emergence of these and other state and federal health care standards, regulations, and quality measures related to social drivers of health2 stems from strong and compelling evidence linking social adversity with poor health outcomes3-8 and increasingly leverages the health care sector’s adoption of value-based payment models that reward quality over quantity of services.9, 10