NCSL Health Programs Overview
 State governments play substantial roles in health care, health promotion and disease prevention, including that of purchaser, guardian of the public’s health, access broker, safety net provider, regulator and educator. State government also serves as the overseer of the entire health system; no other state entity plays that key role.
Health Policy Topics
NCSL's health programs cover dozens of health policy topics, including the broad categories of access and reform, finance and cost containment, chronic disease prevention and health promotion, health information technology, insurance, long-term care, maternal and child health, Medicaid, mental health, physical activity and nutrition, prescription drugs, primary care, public health and wellness, substance abuse, and workforce issues.
Health Services and Resources
NCSL provides a range of services and resources about pressing health policy issues facing the nation to state legislators and legislative staff.
NCSL staff are available to:
- Respond to your requests for information
- Provide you with the latest policy information at www.ncsl.org
- Send you publications ranging from postcards to issue briefs to books to NCSL's award-winning State Legislatures magazine to our on-line State Health Notes
- newsletter and Public Health Herald newsletter
- Track legislation across the country and in our nation's capital
- Monitor federal activities and alert states to issues of interest
- Invite you to attend educational meetings and seminars
- Come to your state to provide technical assistance
- Distribute information on a variety of e-mail based list-serves.
NCSL Programs and Offices
NCSL has an extensive commitment of staff and resources focused on health policy issues, based both in the Denver office and the D.C. office. These programs include:
The Health Program (Denver office)
With a staff of 16, the Health Program provides a wide range of activities in coordination with legislators’ priorities and in-depth projects on primary care, maternal and child health, chronic care and prevention, health costs, insurance and pharmaceuticals.
Martha King, Group Director
The Forum for State Health Policy Leadership (D.C. office)
The Forum was established in 1995 to respond to the challenges in health policy development facing states with record high turnover among elected officials. The Forum meets the diverse needs of: legislators who are new members of health committees; veteran legislators who have substantial expertise in health policy; health committee chairs, and health legislative staff.
Donna Folkemer, Group Director
Health Policy Federal Affairs (D.C. office)
The health federal affairs staff represents state legislatures on the full range of federal issues in Washington, D.C. They provide regular alerts on key health developments at federal agencies, Congress and the White House. For 2009 they are coordinating a Federal Health Reform Task Force established by the Executive Committee.
Joy Johnson Wilson, Federal Affairs Counsel; Health Policy Director
Standing Committee on Health (Denver and D.C. offices)
The Committee is composed of legislators and legislative staff from among the 50 states, districts and territories, appointed by leadership. Committee members meet during the year to debate and decide on federal policy matters and plan issue forums and sessions. Some members also provide guidance on selected projects and publications.
Martha King and Joy Johnson Wilson, Health Committee Staff
To submit a question to NCSL's Health Staff, please send an e-mail to health-info@ncsl.org.
For 2009-10 a significant number of health issues are priorities for state legislators and for NCSL projects. For easy web navigation, use the 12 Tabs on this page and the A-to-Z option to select the specific topics of interest to you.
Updated June 2009
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