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.
Primary Care
September 2026 Robert L. Phillips, Deborah J. Cohen, Ethan J. Phillips, Lauren S. Hughes , Andrew W. Bazemore,
Primary care is the foundation of a high-functioning health system, yet it has been weakened for decades, and the consequences for patients, population health, and costs are increasingly apparent. More
Aging
September 2026 Joshua R. Ehrlich, Lindsay Kobayashi,
Populations around the world are aging, and fast. Here in the United States, not only is the population getting older, but it’s doing so in the… More
State Health Policy Leadership
September 2026 Debra Lubar,
I hate moving: Going through everything you own, boxing the good stuff, parting with big swaths of stuff, and then doing the whole thing in reverse… More
September 2026 Mary Louise Gilburg,
Over the past several decades, there has been a substantial increase globally in policies legalizing medical and recreational cannabis, yet the… More
Opioid Use Disorder State Health Policy
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
Infectious Disease State Health Policy
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
Health Law
September 2026 Sara Rosenbaum, Jane L. Tavares, Marc A. Cohen, Alison Barkoff, Feygele Jacobs,
It is axiomatic that federal rules must be legal. More
Health Care Costs Health Insurance
September 2026 Kody H. Kinsley, Jeanne M. Lambrew, Doug Scaffidi,
State policymakers are confronting budget challenges stemming from recent federal restrictions on Medicaid funding, as well as from the rising costs… More
Social drivers of health
September 2026 Lisa Carter-Bawa,
Context: Despite substantial evidence that stigma produces measurable health inequities across conditions and populations, stigma remains absent from… More