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

Program Contact:

Anna Heard, Senior Policy Analyst, Health

Focus Areas

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

NGA Holds Policy Event, Releases Complex Care Road Map for States

WASHINGTON—The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) Health Division hosted an event at the National Press Club to discuss its new report, Building Complex Care Programs: A Road ...

Building Complex Care Programs: A Road Map for States

Since 2013, the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) Health Division has worked with 10 states and one territory, providing technical assistance to develop state-level solutions for ...

Governors Tell Congress to Immediately Fund CHIP, Community Health Centers

In a letter to congressional leadership, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, who head the National Governors Association (NGA) Health and Human Services Committee, urged Congress to reach an agreement ...

CHIP, Community Health Center Fund

The Honorable Mitch McConnell Majority Leader U.S. Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 The Honorable Paul Ryan Speaker U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 The Honorable Charles Schumer Minority Leader U.S ...

Maternal and Child Health Update 2016

Health care costs continue to rise around the country, and so states are looking for ways to reduce spending while improving health outcomes for their higher cost populations. Many states ...

Governors: Future of Health Care Depends on Critical Payments

WASHINGTON—Following the President’s decision to terminate cost-sharing reduction (CSR) payments, the National Governors Association (NGA) today released the following statement: “Governors have been clear: funding CSR payments is a fundamental responsibility of the ...