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The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation is a nonprofit, private-operating foundation dedicated to providing information and analysis on healthcare issues and policy. It is an important source of facts and analysis for policymakers, the media, the healthcare community, and the general public.

The foundation was established in 1948 by Henry J. Kaiser and his wife, Bess, to meet the unmet healthcare needs of the citizens of the United States. Its founder, Henry J. Kaiser, was a legendary American industrialist who completed massive construction projects such as the Hoover Dam and built Liberty ships during World War II and automobiles after the war. In healthcare, he pioneered the idea for the Kaiser Permanente HMO, which became the model for health maintenance organizations (HMOs) nationwide.

Headquartered in Menlo Park, California, with an additional office in Washington, D.C., the Kaiser Family Foundation funds its own research and communication programs, sometimes in partnership with other research organizations or major media companies. Working with an annual budget of over $40 million, the foundation operates independently. This independence allows it to provide information on a nonpartisan basis.

Although most of the Kaiser Family Foundation's work concentrates on healthcare issues in the United States, in recent years, it has expanded its scope to include global health issues. The foundation provides up-to-date information, research-based evidence, and recommendations on various health topics, and it advocates for vulnerable populations. Much of its work relates to medically underserved populations such as low-income families, minorities, women, and people living in developing countries.

Health Policy Programs

The Kaiser Family Foundation has six programs addressing U.S. healthcare policy: (1) Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, (2) Health Care Marketplace Project, (3) HIV Policy Program, (4) Medicare Policy Project, (5) Race/Ethnicity and Health Care Program, and (6) Women's Health Policy Program.

Begun in 1991, the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured is the largest operating program of the foundation. The commission focuses on healthcare policy and research regarding low-income families. It examines how Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) work and the corresponding issues facing uninsured individuals and families.

The Healthcare Marketplace Project examines the trends and determinants of the nation's healthcare economy. The project provides resources for employer health programs, including information about health insurance, the pharmaceutical industry, and healthcare costs.

The foundation's HIV Policy Program addresses the costs of treatment, the effectiveness of prevention methods, and the political atmosphere surrounding the disease. The program conducts research and shares the most recent information about HIV/AIDS, including changes in public opinions, policies, and laws.

The Medicare Policy Project provides resources, statistics, and analysis concerning that federal healthcare program. As the American public ages, a growing number of individuals are using Medicare. The project offers comparisons of various Medicare plans and descriptions of benefits, including the new prescription drugs component. The resources provided by the project assist people in understanding and navigating this complicated benefits program.

The Race/Ethnicity and Health Care Program addresses health disparities and the difference in health status among people of color. The program conducts research on issues related to access to care, especially quality healthcare, and recognizes that public policy is an influential factor in reducing health disparities.

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