The Fund supports networks of state health policy decision makers to help identify, inspire, and inform policy leaders.
The Milbank Memorial Fund supports two state leadership programs for legislative and executive branch state government officials committed to improving population health.
The Fund identifies and shares policy ideas and analysis to advance state health leadership, strong primary care, and sustainable health care costs.
Keep up with news and updates from the Milbank Memorial Fund. And read the latest blogs from our thought leaders, including Fund President Christopher F. Koller.
The Fund publishes The Milbank Quarterly, as well as reports, issues briefs, and case studies on topics important to health policy leaders.
The Milbank Memorial Fund is is a foundation that works to improve population health and health equity.
Publication Topic
Publication
March 2025 Mary Louise Gilburg, Sofia Espinosa,
The Milbank State Leadership Network hosted experts from the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) to discuss state legislative approaches to Medicaid and behavioral health policy during the 2025 state legislative season. The conversation explored bipartisan approaches to strengthen coverage, address rising costs amid severe budget constraints, and, improve access to substance use disorder treatment and suicide prevention. More
Blog Post
February 2025 Christopher F. Koller,
The new federal administration is implementing its strategy of, as one if its puppet masters, Steve Bannon, likes to say, “flooding the zone.” Over the course of three weeks, it has released over 50 executive orders and taken administrative actions designed to abolish agencies, flush out a swath of the government workforce, and test the constitutional balance of powers. Collectively this is a real gully washer of executive branch activity. The state and local health officials that Milbank supports are leaders in the communities at the mouth of the gully who are dealing with all that is washing out to them. More
January 2025 Susan S. Stuard ,
Updated February 28, 2025 State policymakers have struggled with the unintended consequences of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accelerated… More
January 2025 Sofia Espinosa, Mary Louise Gilburg,
EVENT DATE: December 23, 2024 Community health workers, promotores, and community health representatives (CHW/P/CHR) address… More
News Article
October 2024 Marjorie Cortez,
The first time Utah state Rep. Steve Eliason was asked what he was going to do about a rash of youth suicides in his suburban Salt Lake County… More
October 2024 Maya Hazarika Watts , Elizabeth Tobin-Tyler, Jessica Breslin, Katie Michel,
Public health laws affect health not only through their substance and design but also through implementation and enforcement. Equitable policymaking requires implementation that respects and works for everyone, with careful attention to the steps of the policy process that follow policy enactment, including enforcement, evaluation, and revision — all of which are necessary to ensure that public health laws have their intended effect. State and local officials working in a range of agencies — from public health to fair employment, housing, consumer protection, government law offices, and more — play a significant role in the implementation and enforcement of public health laws. More
October 2024 Nikhil Patel, Suman Mohanty,
Many high schools in Wake County, North Carolina, are situated in economically vulnerable areas, so there is also a correlation between the density of outlets and Wake County’s most vulnerable areas. These areas are often populated by low-income families and communities of color. The saturation of vape shops in low-income areas not only perpetuates a cycle of poor health outcomes but also highlights the systemic inequities present in the availability and marketing of harmful substances. Addressing these disparities is essential to ensuring all communities benefit from progress in reducing teen vaping rates. More
October 2024 Elliott S. Fisher, Christopher F. Koller, Carrie H. Colla, Alena Berube,
Abstract Health care is increasingly unaffordable in the United States. While comprehensive, affordable health coverage for middle- and… More
October 2024 Art Kaufman, Craig Jones, Howard Haft,
The Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research (AHRQ) has released applications for funding up to 15 state-based health extension cooperatives, a key component of AHRQ’s newly launched Healthcare Extension Service. More
July 2024 Sofia Espinosa, Mary Louise Gilburg,
An overview of an MLSN briefing on the Commonwealth Fund’s 2024 state health disparities report. More
