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.
Commentary and analysis from Milbank Memorial Fund President Christopher F. Koller and other staff.
February 2025
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
In the spring of 2021, my favorite T-shirt to wear on the soccer sidelines sported an image of Dolly Parton singing “Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vacceeeeeene” to the tune of “Jolene.” Parton herself sang the rewritten lyrics repeatedly urging Tennesseans to accept the COVID-19 vaccine. It prompted countless conversations about how the vaccine was made, where people could get it, and how safe it was. As a state public health official, my colleagues and I were rejoicing at how quickly the Trump administration had indeed delivered on a several vaccine options less than a year into the pandemic. More
December 2024
Saying “no” is hard. It makes others unhappy, so people avoid it when they can — whether they are telling kids or constituents they can’t get… More
November 2024
Fear is a powerful force. Fear for her daughter’s safety drove my sister to take a bullet to protect my niece from a carjacker. Fear of raising… More
A trip home to help with Appalachian mountain relief work in the wake of Hurricane Helene brought lessons on trust and community for Morgan McDonald, Milbank’s National Director of Population Health and Health Equity Leadership. More
September 2024
A new Medicaid-based program in North Carolina is expected to relieve approximately $4 billion in medical debt. More
August 2024
“Chris, if you have a hammer, everything looks like nail.” So said the general surgeon in the HMO where I was working 30 years ago, as… More
May 2024
In Woonsocket, Rhode Island, Steward was sent packing and the community staved off the private equity beast. The result has been less than universally satisfying, but as states and communities struggle with health system consolidation, health care affordability, and difficult resource allocation decisions, this story of how the private equity wolves were thwarted may offer lessons. More
March 2024
Ed McGookin had a big problem. Coastal Medical, the 150-physician medical group in Rhode Island that he leads, was facing more competition… More
January 2024
Milbank Memorial Fund President Christopher F. Koller shares insights from state health policy leaders on leading responses to poor health in a complex and demanding environment. More
