About Our Work
Supporting state leaders to address today’s biggest health policy challenges.
For over 35 years, the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) has been a nonpartisan organization committed to developing and advancing state health policy innovations and solutions. We are a nonprofit organization, predominantly funded by grants, that supports state leaders by providing technical assistance, publishing and disseminating research and analyses, sharing best practices, and bringing new health policy ideas across executive and legislative branches of state government.
Our Academy and Committees
Our work is guided by an independent academy of state health policymakers from the executive and legislative branches of state government. The Academy consists of an Executive Committee and four Steering Committees:
Behavioral Health, Aging, and Disability
Child and Family Health
Coverage, Cost, and Value
Population and Public Health
How We Do Our Work
Policy Academies and Learning Collaboratives
Policy academies and learning collaboratives bring together small, interagency teams to develop work plans around a specific policy topic over a series of months or years. These opportunities offer states direct technical assistance from NASHP staff and peer-based engagement across states.
Technical Assistance
Assisting state leaders with implementing various opportunities and solutions to health policy challenges.
State-Only Convenings and Roundtables
Day-long opportunities to explore and discuss innovative strategies and effective solutions within the safe harbor NASHP provides.
National Summits
Bringing together state leaders, thought partners, and others to discuss state policy challenges and solutions.
Networking Opportunities
Opportunities for state leaders to connect, share best practices, raise new insights, and address specific challenges — through formal learning networks and workgroups dedicated to specific policy domains (examples are described below).
Federal-State Discourse Meetings
Facilitated meetings of federal and state leaders to explore policy issues from both federal and state lenses, connecting leaders at all levels and helping to interpret needs.
Publications
Case studies, analyses, and other useful resources on state strategies to address the most pressing health challenges, including blogs, policy briefs, toolkits, and interactive 50-state trackers and in-depth 50-state analyses.
Annual Conference
Convening hundreds of state health policy leaders from across the country for sessions highlighting best practices and innovative solutions, led by the nation’s leading health policy experts. Learn more about our annual conference.
Regular Updates and Communications
Ongoing opportunities for states to engage through email listservs, webinars on health policy topics, and a weekly newsletter.
Networking and Learning Opportunities for State Leaders
NASHP provides a unique forum for the productive exchange of strategies across state government through a variety of learning and networking opportunities — including the opportunities highlighted below.
Open Networks
State Health and Human Services Leadership Peer Network
State Opioid Settlement Learning Network
State leaders are engaged in planning on how to effectively spend the estimated $50 billion in opioid settlement funding flowing to state and local governments. Representatives from 30 states have joined this learning network for state-to-state learning and discussion of emerging challenges. Participants include state policymakers from departments of health and human services, Medicaid programs, behavioral health, opioid response units, attorneys general, and government advisory councils
Children's Coverage Network
The goal of this work is to engage and facilitate state peer relationships and learning on policies that support coverage for all children and families. We have supported this network since the Children’s Health Insurance Program was established in 1997.
State Health Exchange Leadership Network
This network is a consortium of state-based marketplace directors and staff dedicated to the operation of health insurance marketplaces. The network, representing 18 states, was established in 2011 to support state leaders and staff as they work to provide affordable, high-quality coverage to consumers through successful health insurance marketplaces.
EPSDT Network
This network is comprised of state health officials who oversee Medicaid’s Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit. State officials are convened regularly to discuss emergent issues in Medicaid maternal and child health policy.
State Community Health Worker Policy Network
This network consists of state officials from across agencies who are developing and implementing policies around the community health worker (CHW) workforce. The goal is to exchange best practices, innovations, and challenges regarding sustainable investment in and effective partnerships with CHWs.
To learn more about these opportunities, please contact us.
Examples of Current Projects
Center on Drug Pricing
The Center on Drug Pricing provides state leaders with new approaches to lower pharmaceutical costs through technical assistance and resources such as model legislation, contracts, and legal analyses. Visit our Center on Drug Pricing.
Center for Health System Costs
The Center for Health System Costs provides states with technical support and resources to understand and address high and rising hospital and health system costs, including an interactive Hospital Cost Tool and model legislation. Visit our Center for Health System Costs.
Improving Behavioral Health Care: Building Capacity for State-Level Systems Reforms
This project supports state policymakers in affecting transformation of behavioral health systems through a learning collaborative of five states, as well as a behavioral health modernization resource that will be available to all states and state priorities that will be shared with federal partners. Learn more about our behavioral health work.
Maternal and Child Health Policy Innovations Program
This project supports states in advancing innovative state-level policy initiatives that improve access to quality health care for the maternal and child health population. This includes in-depth technical assistance to over 15 states through two consecutive policy academies, policy research, and national dissemination of states’ work. Learn more about our work in women’s and children’s health.
Supporting States to Improve Equitable Systems of Care for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN)
This project supports states in improving systems of care for CYSHCN with a focus on addressing longstanding disparities in access to care and health outcomes. The project includes state Medicaid agencies, state Title V CYSHCN programs, health plans, children’s hospitals, provider groups, families of CYSHCN, and state and community-based organizations. Learn more about our work on CYSHCN.
Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage (RAISE) Act Family Caregiving Advisory Council
This project supports and fosters state and national efforts, including those of the RAISE Advisory Council, to increase access to services and supports for family caregivers. We provide resources and technical assistance through the RAISE Act Family Caregiver Resource and Dissemination Center.
The Future of Aging Policies across States
This initiative helps states strengthen policies for an aging population and the direct care workforce that supports them. By elevating aging as a priority, states can accelerate measurable progress on policies that will address the needs of older adults, while optimizing state spending and capacity. Learn more about our aging policy work.
Health and Housing Institute
This project advances state policy and cross-sector collaboration among health and housing partners to increase access to safe, affordable housing for homeless and housing insecure people. This includes in-depth technical assistance to six states over three years, opportunities for peer-to-peer exchange of actionable strategies, and national dissemination of resources and lessons. Learn more about our work in health and housing.
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Attend Our Annual Conference
#NASHPCONF24
September 9-11, 2024
Nashville, Tennessee
Join hundreds of state leaders from all 50 states and Washington, DC for our 37th annual conference. #NASHPCONF24 brings attention to the most timely, cutting-edge issues facing state health policymakers and highlights innovative solutions shared by the nation’s leading experts. Registration will open in early May!
Our Executive Director
Hemi Tewarson
At NASHP, Hemi Tewarson, JD, MPH leads an organization that is at the forefront of engaging state leaders and bringing together partners to develop and advance state health policy innovations. Under her direction, NASHP is leading efforts with states in areas including state COVID-19 recovery, health care costs and value, coverage, child and family health, aging, family caregiving, health care workforce, behavioral health, social drivers of health and equity, and public health modernization.