Not to be confused with "Health Affairs"( ISSN0092-8577),with the ISO 4 abbreviation 'Health Aff.',published by the University of Pennsylvania from 1972 to 1985.
Health Affairs is a monthly, peer-reviewed health and health care policy journal published by Project HOPE. The journal, which maintains editorial independence from Project HOPE, publishes research, reviews, commentary, and analysis, as well as journalistic content and personal stories. Several issues each year are devoted to specific themes.
The journal was established in 1981 as a quarterly by its founding editor, John K. Iglehart, who served as editor until 2007 (then again on an interim basis from 2013 to 2014). Donald E. Metz was appointed interim editor-in-chief in 2025 after Alan R. Weil departed in 2024.[1] Other past editors include James C. Robinson and Susan Dentzer.
Through its publications and other activities, Health Affairs explores health policy issues of current concern in both domestic and international spheres.[3] Its mission is to serve as a high-level, nonpartisan forum to promote analysis and discussion on improving health and health care, addressing such issues as cost, quality, access, and nonmedical determinants of health.[4] Iglehart described the journal's aim as "provoking a constructive domestic U.S. dialogue between the warring political parties and countless private stakeholders."[3]
The journal’s audience includes government and health industry leaders; health care advocates; scholars of health, health care, and health policy; and others concerned with health and health care issues in the United States and worldwide.[5]
The journal has been described in The Washington Post as “the bible of health policy” and a “must-read for anyone with a serious interest in medicine, health care and health care policy.”[6]Health Affairs’ articles are regularly covered in major news media and read and cited by leaders around the globe, including members of Congress, ministry of health officials, and members of the judicial branch.
Other types of content
Since its founding, Health Affairs has added a variety of content types and platforms in addition to the monthly journal.
Forefront was established in 2006 as Health Affairs Blog, then renamed Forefront in 2021. It is a free access, daily, digital-only publication that provides readers with analysis, commentary, and proposals on current and enduring health policy issues.[10]Forefront features work from researchers, clinicians, health policy experts, policy makers, and industry leaders. For timeliness, Forefront is not peer-reviewed. Forefront articles have been cited by members of Congress and major news outlets.
Narrative Matters
Narrative Matters is a personal-essay section of Health Affairs journal. It was established in 1999 with Fitzhugh Mullan (George Washington University) as its original editor.
During its history, Narrative Matters has published nearly 350 policy narratives and poems on a wide range of topics by well-known writers including Julia Alvarez, Siddhartha Mukherjee, Alexander McCall Smith, and Abraham Verghese; by distinguished medical professionals and academics; and by patients and their families. In 2006, the Johns Hopkins University Press published a selection of essays from Narrative Matters: Narrative Matters: The Power of the Personal Essay in Health Policy (editors: Fitzhugh Mullan, Ellen Ficklen, and Kyna Rubin).
Health Policy Briefs
Published since 2009, Health Policy Briefs provide readers with overviews and reviews of evidence on timely topics that are currently being debated in health policy.[11] These briefs are free to access online and are aimed at a broad readership.
Podcasts
Health Affairs began producing podcasts in 2007 to present audio of nonpartisan analysis and discussions on important health and health care topics.[12] Podcasts feature discussions between Health Affairs editors as well as discussions with outside experts.
Events
Health Affairs hosts a variety of events and briefings that feature presentations from authors of content published in Health Affairs; moderated panel discussions; and one-on-one conversations with researchers, experts, and other leaders in the field.[13] Some events are open to the public, while others are limited to Health Affairs Insider members.[14]
Fellowships
Through its Health Equity Fellowship for Trainees (HEFT) program (established in 2021), Health Affairs provides mentorship to early-career equity researchers.[15] The program competitively selects applicants every 18 months, then pairs them with Health Affairs editors and academic researchers who provide guidance on the academic publishing process.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
