Kaiser Family Foundation[edit]

The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) is an American non-profit organization that provides information on health issues, with a focus on U.S. health policy, health issues, and global health. It is well-known for its research, analysis, and public education efforts in the areas of health care, health reform, global health, and related policy issues. The foundation is based in Menlo Park, California.

History[edit]

The Kaiser Family Foundation was established in 1948 as a non-profit, private foundation focused on health care research. It was originally created by the founder of the Kaiser Permanente health care system, Henry J. Kaiser, to provide health care to the communities where Kaiser Permanente operated. Over time, the foundation expanded its focus beyond health care for Kaiser Permanente members to broader health policy research and global health issues.

In the 1990s, KFF shifted its focus to providing information and analysis on national health policy issues, particularly the U.S. health care system, including health insurance, public health programs, and health reform. It became one of the leading non-partisan organizations for health-related research and analysis.

Mission[edit]

The mission of the Kaiser Family Foundation is to provide accurate and timely information on health issues to policymakers, the media, and the public to improve the health of individuals and communities. The foundation is committed to promoting informed public debate about health policy and ensuring that the American public has access to the information they need to understand complex health issues.

Areas of Focus[edit]

The Kaiser Family Foundation's work covers a broad range of health-related topics, including:

Health Reform: Analysis of U.S. health reform efforts, including the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Medicare, Medicaid, and other health insurance programs.
Global Health: Research and analysis of health challenges worldwide, including diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis.
Health Disparities: Investigating health inequities and providing insights on how to address disparities in access to health care and health outcomes.
Medicare and Medicaid: Research on U.S. government-sponsored health care programs for the elderly, disabled, and low-income populations.
Public Opinion on Health Policy: Tracking public attitudes and opinions regarding health policy issues, such as health insurance, health care reform, and government health programs.
Women’s Health: Addressing issues related to women’s access to health care, reproductive rights, and gender-specific health issues.
Health Costs and Financing: Analyzing health care costs and financing, including insurance premiums, out-of-pocket costs, and how the U.S. health care system is funded.

Research and Data Services[edit]

The Kaiser Family Foundation is widely recognized for its data-driven approach to health policy analysis. It conducts research through surveys, public opinion polling, and in-depth policy reports. The foundation also produces and maintains a number of online tools and data sets, including:

The KFF Health Reform Source: A comprehensive resource on U.S. health reform, including analysis of the ACA.
The KFF Medicaid and CHIP Data: Provides insights into the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Programs.
The KFF Global Health Data: A resource for tracking global health issues and data.

KFF is known for producing reliable, non-partisan research that is widely cited by policymakers, journalists, and health professionals.

Leadership and Notable Figures[edit]

The Kaiser Family Foundation is led by an executive team and board of trustees, with a focus on maintaining impartiality in its research and advocacy work. As of March 2025, the President and CEO of KFF is Diana L. Dooley, who has held this role since 2018.

Diana L. Dooley is recognized for her leadership in public health policy and her work to expand access to affordable health care for all Americans. Under her leadership, KFF has continued to grow its reputation as one of the most respected health policy research organizations in the U.S.

Funding and Independence[edit]

The Kaiser Family Foundation is primarily funded by a combination of private donations, grants, and revenue from its research services. It is an independent non-profit organization and does not accept funding from health care providers or health insurance companies in order to maintain its impartiality. KFF’s funding structure ensures that its research remains free from corporate influence, and it is recognized for its unbiased, evidence-based approach to health policy analysis.

Advocacy and Public Education[edit]

While KFF is primarily a research and policy analysis organization, it also works to inform and engage the public on health issues. It produces educational materials, organizes public events, and engages in media outreach to raise awareness about health care issues in the U.S. and globally. KFF is frequently cited in news outlets, and its research is used by government agencies, health organizations, and advocacy groups.

Notable Contributions[edit]

Some of KFF’s notable contributions include:

Providing key analysis during the debate over the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Tracking and analyzing public opinion on health care issues, including attitudes toward health reform, Medicaid, and Medicare.
Supporting research into global health issues, including HIV/AIDS and vaccine distribution.
Conducting extensive surveys on Americans' access to health care and attitudes toward health care financing.

External Links[edit]

Official Website: [1](https://www.kff.org/)
KFF on YouTube: [2](https://www.youtube.com/user/KaiserFamilyFound)
KFF on Twitter: [@KaiserFamFound](https://twitter.com/KaiserFamFound)

References[edit]