Healthcare Delivery

Governors know that improving the health of citizens is not only essential to ensuring they live productive lives, but also to controlling health care costs and balancing budgets; as a result, states are leading on a wide array of health reform initiatives.

Governors are focused on finding ways to pay for and deliver care that will lead to improved quality, better outcomes and lower costs in their states. To support these priorities, NGA provides information, research synthesis, policy analysis, technical assistance, special projects, and resources to Governors and their staff on healthcare delivery topics including: Healthcare workforce; Long-term care and older adults; Healthcare and pharmaceutical cost and coverage; Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and trauma informed care; Health equity. NGA also provides special opportunities for states to engage in more in-depth technical assistance such as through policy academies, learning collaboratives, workshops, and roundtables on these topics.

Services Available

  • Strategic planning facilitation and best practice guidance on healthcare delivery topics or initiatives
  • Strategic guidance, feedback and meeting facilitation support to Governor-appointed healthcare workforce, health equity, trauma, and insurance boards or commissions
  • Annual HHS Advisors Institute for state leaders on emerging healthcare delivery issues
  • Regular communications and briefings to health policy advisors on healthcare delivery topics
  • Customized research briefs and best practice presentations upon request

Featured Projects

Next Generation of the Healthcare Workforce Project Year 3 – Policy Academy and Knowledge Exchange Network

NGA launched the Next Generation of the Healthcare Workforce project in 2022 with support from HRSA. The project supports Governors’ offices and other senior state officials in implementing strategies to strengthen and grow the next generation of the healthcare workforce. Year three of this project will focus on a policy academy and learning network to lay the foundation for new initiatives, funding opportunities, or administrative policies for improving healthcare workforce.


Health Equity Learning Network

In 2023, the NGA Center convened states to discuss approaches and communication strategies regarding health equity. In 2024, the NGA Center will facilitate a learning network of states and territories interested in advancing their health equity goals.


Healthcare Delivery Library

State Actions Addressing COVID-19 in Long-Term Care Facilities

State Actions Addressing COVID-19 in Long-Term Care Facilities

This table provides an overview of notable state actions to address COVID-19 in long-term care facilities. (View/Download) This table provides an overview of notable state actions to address COVID-19 in ...
Improving Outcomes and Reducing Cost of Care for Complex Care Populations With Behavioral Health and Social Support Needs: Toolkit for Governors

Improving Outcomes and Reducing Cost of Care for Complex Care Populations With Behavioral Health and Social Support Needs: Toolkit for Governors

The toolkit features lessons learned from Arizona and Michigan, who served as models for the participating states, and supplements the NGA road map for building complex care programs and the ...
Expanding Access To Non-Opioid Management Of Chronic Pain

Expanding Access To Non-Opioid Management Of Chronic Pain

This report synthesizes the existing evidence base for non-opioid therapies, examines Medicaid coverage policies, and identifies barriers and opportunities for scaling evidence-based integrated pain management delivery systems. (View/Download) Executive Summary ...
Opioid and COVID-19 Related Resources

Opioid and COVID-19 Related Resources

(View/Download) Relevant information and guidance for communities confronting opioids in the age of COVID-19 The Intersection of Two Pandemics: Addiction and COVID-19 Webinar The USC Schaeffer Center and the Institute ...
State Strategies to Improve the Use of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs to Address Opioid and other Substance Use Disorders

State Strategies to Improve the Use of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs to Address Opioid and other Substance Use Disorders

(View/Download) Executive Summary States have implemented many different strategies to address opioid use disorder/substance use disorders (OUD/SUD) and promote safe prescribing practices. One of these strategies is maintaining prescription drug ...

Governors Call on the Administration to Delay Changes to Hospital Reporting Requirements

The National Governors Association, on behalf of the governors in all 55 states and territories, urges the Trump administration to delay the changes to hospital reporting requirements announced on Monday ...
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Strategies for COVID-19 Response for Populations Receiving Long-Term Care

(View/Download) This memo, originally published on April 3, and was last updated on July 13. Introduction As governors consider ways to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and protect high-risk communities, ...
State, Local Governments Urge Enhanced Federal Health Care Match During COVID-19 Pandemic

State, Local Governments Urge Enhanced Federal Health Care Match During COVID-19 Pandemic

Associations representing states, territories, counties, cities and towns call on Congress to provide an enhanced federal share for the Medicaid program in the next bipartisan COVID-19 relief bill.Boosting the Federal ...
Organizations' Letter Advocating for Enhanced Federal Medicaid Match

Organizations’ Letter Advocating for Enhanced Federal Medicaid Match

The Honorable Mitch McConnellMajority Leader, United States SenateU.S. Capitol Building, Room S-230Washington, DC 20510The Honorable Chuck SchumerMinority Leader, United States SenateU.S. Capitol Building, Room S-224Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Nancy ...

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