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:

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

Help Wanted: Building a Pipeline to Address the Children’s Mental Health Provider Workforce Shortage

Help Wanted: Building a Pipeline to Address the Children’s Mental Health Provider Workforce Shortage

There is no silver bullet for the mental health crisis but reducing workforce shortages of these critical providers can go a long way to solving the problem. by Jessica Kirchner ...
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State Efforts to Improve the Continuum of Care for Substance Use Disorder and Opioid Use Disorder

State Efforts to Improve the Continuum of Care for Substance Use Disorder and Opioid Use Disorder

Lessons Learned from the National Governors Association Substance Use Disorder Learning Collaborative in Six States (Download) Executive Summary In June 2020, the National Governors Association (NGA) launched the Strengthening Substance ...
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State Actions to Prevent and Mitigate Adverse Childhood Experiences

State Actions to Prevent and Mitigate Adverse Childhood Experiences

Preventing and mitigating adverse childhood experiences and toxic stress and promoting resilience are increasingly priorities for Governors. To mount an effective response to ACEs, states may consider a holistic approach ...
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Championing Health Equity

Championing Health Equity

This brief synthesizes key accomplishments and lessons learned based on interviews with 10 state COVID-19 health equity task forces. (View/Download) Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has magnified social, economic, and health ...
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Achieving Progress Toward Health Equity Using Race and Ethnicity Data

Achieving Progress Toward Health Equity Using Race and Ethnicity Data

By improving the availability of and reducing the inconsistencies with race and ethnicity data, states can better understand inequities exacerbated by COVID-19 and develop effective public health interventions. (View/Download) Introduction ...
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Case Study: California's ACEs Aware Initiative

Case Study: California’s ACEs Aware Initiative

California’s ACEs Aware initiative takes an innovative, evidence-based approach to addressing adverse childhood experiences and toxic stress by educating and training health care providers who are directly interacting with the ...
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State Strategies for Sector Growth and Retention of the Direct Care Health Workforce

State Strategies for Sector Growth and Retention of the Direct Care Health Workforce

This issue brief provides a series of multi-sector state and employer strategies to address recruitment and health sector retention of direct care workers while balancing workforce needs, job quality and ...
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4 States and Territories to Participate in NGA Policy Academy on Stimulant and Polysubstance Use

4 States and Territories to Participate in NGA Policy Academy on Stimulant and Polysubstance Use

National Governors Association to Work With American Samoa, Connecticut, Michigan and West Virginia on Improving Care for Individuals Who Use Stimulants American Samoa, Connecticut, Michigan and West Virginia will participate ...
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Webinar: State Strategies for Sector Growth and Retention of the Direct Care Health Workforce

Webinar: State Strategies for Sector Growth and Retention of the Direct Care Health Workforce

This webinar, held Oct 14, 2021, discusses the NGA publication "State Strategies for Sector Growth and Retention of the Direct Care Health Workforce" Direct care workers, including nursing assistants, home ...
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