Health Advocacy & Policy
For everyone in America to have the chance to live as healthy a life as possible, we need public policies that not only maximize access to affordable, quality healthcare, but also work to elevate communities and dismantle systemic barriers to wellbeing.
In the nation’s capital and at the state and local level, we use our knowledge and the expertise of our partners to provide policymakers and others with analysis, evidence, and potential approaches. We fund research, provide resources like nonpartisan analyses, participate in convenings, coalitions, and briefings to achieve health equity faster and pave the way, together, to a future where health is no longer a privilege, but a right.
What Happens When the Public Health Emergency Ends?
Policy Brief Library
Across our work, we leverage decades of research to assist policymakers in efforts to safeguard and improve health in the communities they serve. We support the translation of nonpartisan research and evidence into health policy briefs. These briefs strive to explain key policy issues in a concise, easily digestible format.
From the Blog
How We Are Shaping Federal Policy to Drive Health Equity
6-min read
How to Counter Preemption Laws That Can Undermine Health Equity
5-min read
Policies for Action
Policies for Action (P4A) is a signature research program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation administered through the national coordinating center at the Urban Institute. This program funds research that identifies policies, laws, and other regulatory tools that can be leveraged to build a Culture of Health.
Latest Regulatory Comments
When given the opportunity to publicly comment on proposed policies and regulations that coincide with our focus areas, RWJF provides data and evidence to decisionmakers.
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Comments by Richard Besser, MD, on Proposal to Improve Information-Sharing Between IRS and Census04/29/2024
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Comments Submitted by RWJF on Drinking Water Regulations for Lead and Copper02/05/2024
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Comments from Richard Besser, MD, Urging Census Bureau to Pause Proposed Changes to Disability Questions12/14/2023
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Comments from Richard Besser, MD, on Proposed Update to Federal Regulations Prohibiting Disability Discrimination11/13/2023
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Comments from Richard Besser, MD, on Modernizing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention10/20/2023
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Comments from Richard Besser, MD, on Proposed Rule Regarding Eligibility for Federal Health Insurance Coverage for Recipients of DACA and Other Lawfully Present Immigrants.06/23/2023
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Comments from Richard Besser, MD, on HIPAA Privacy Proposed Rule to Support Reproductive Healthcare Privacy06/16/2023
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Comments from Richard Besser, MD, on Proposed Changes to USDA's School Nutrition Standards05/09/2023
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Comments from Richard Besser, MD, on Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Proposed Rule04/24/2023
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Comments from Richard Besser, MD, on the Initial Proposals For Updating OMB's Race and Ethnicity Statistical Standards04/12/2023
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Comments from Richard Besser, MD, on Ways to Support and Strengthen the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention04/10/2023
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Comments from Richard Besser, MD, on Proposed Rule to Update WIC Food Packages02/21/2023
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Comments from Richard Besser, MD, on Streamlining the Eligibility and Enrollment Processes for Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Basic Health Program Proposed Rule11/07/2022
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Comments from Richard Besser, MD, on Nondiscrimination in Health Programs and Activities Proposed Rule10/03/2022
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Comments from Richard Besser, MD, on Biden Harris Administration Proposed Rule to Fix “Family Glitch” and Lower Health Care Costs06/06/2022
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RWJF Comments on the Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility Proposed Rule04/25/2022
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Comments from Richard Besser, MD, on Access to Coverage and Care in Medicaid and CHIP04/18/2022
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RWJF Comments on Proposed Changes to USDA's School Meal Nutrition Standards04/02/2020
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Comments from Richard Besser, MD, on the Proposed Rule Regarding Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH)03/16/2020
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Statement from Richard Besser, MD, on Proposed Change to Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Rule02/18/2020
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Statement from Richard Besser, MD, on Medicaid Block Grant Guidance02/07/2020
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Comments from Richard Besser, MD, on Tennessee’s Proposal to Amend TennCare II12/20/2019
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Statement from Richard Besser, MD, on SNAP Categorical Eligibility10/30/2019
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Comments from Richard Besser, MD, on the Housing and Urban Development Department’s Implementation of the Fair Housing Act’s Disparate Impact Standard Proposed Rule10/18/2019
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Statement from Richard Besser, MD, on Proposed Changes to Disparate Impact Standard in Housing10/18/2019
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Comments from Richard Besser, MD, on Required Cigarette Health Warnings for Cigarette Packages and Advertisements Proposed Rule10/14/2019
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Comments from Richard Besser, MD, on Revision of Categorical Eligibility in the SNAP Proposed Rule Making09/19/2019
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Comments from Richard Besser, MD, on the U.S. FDA Compliance Policy Regarding Flavored Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems and Flavored Cigars04/22/2019
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Comments from Richard Besser, MD, on Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Regarding Maximum Nicotine Level for Tobacco Products07/12/2018
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Comments from Richard Besser on Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Regulation of Premium Cigars Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act07/12/2018
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Comments from Richard Besser, MD, on Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Regulation of Flavors in Tobacco Products07/12/2018
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RWJF Comments on USDA’s Proposed Changes to the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs01/29/2018
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RWJF Comments on the Experimental Study on Warning Statements for Cigarette Graphic Health Warnings05/30/2017
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RWJF Comments on Proposed Standards for Local School Wellness Policies04/14/2014
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RWJF Comments on Proposed Nutrition Standards for School Snacks Foods and Beverages04/17/2013
Contact Us
RWJF Policy department staff:
Avenel Joseph
Vice President, Policy
ajoseph@rwjf.org
(609) 627-6235
Katherine Hempstead
Senior Policy Adviser
khempstead@rwjf.org
(609) 627-6396
Elizabeth DiLauro
Senior Policy Officer
edilauro@rwjf.org
(609) 627-7518
Giridhar Mallya
Senior Policy Officer
gmallya@rwjf.org
(609) 627-6476
Alyson Northrup
Senior Policy Officer
anorthrup@rwjf.org
(609) 627-7643
Starla Stiles
Communications Officer, Policy
sstiles@rwjf.org
(609) 627-6003
Aaron Carpenter
Policy Associate
acarpenter@rwjf.org
(609) 627-6230