HHS Health Care Innovation Challenge Grants

HHS and CMS to Award Innovation Grants

Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will be awarding $900 million in grants to health care providers, local government, or community organizations that have an idea to cut costs in health care. Funded by the Affordable Care Act, the program is called the Health Care Innovation Challenge and winners will receive $1 to $30 million for 3 year grants. The program will focus on rural health care environments, lowering costs, and improving overall patient care.

Applicants need to be aware of the Challenge’s ambitious time frame. The Challenge was announced on November 14th, letters of intent are due by December 19th, applications will be accepted until January 27, 2012, and the grants are anticipated to be funded in March of 2012. The Challenge money is coming from the Affordable Care Act but is being brought to you by the President’s “We Can’t Wait” initiative. And as you can see, they can’t wait to give the money away.

Grants Notice Details

Funding Opportunity Number: CMS-1C1-12-001
Posted Date: Nov 14, 2011
Current Closing Date for Applications: Jan 27, 2012
Archive Date: Feb 26, 2012
Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement
Category Explanation: This initiative will fund applicants who propose compelling new models of service delivery/payment improvements that hold the promise of delivering the three-part aim of better health, better health care, and lower costs through improved quality for Medicare, Medicaid, and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollees.
Expected Number of Awards: 100
Estimated Total Program Funding: $900,000,000
Award Ceiling: $30,000,000
Award Floor: $1,000,000
CFDA Number(s): 93.610 — Health Care Innovation Challenge
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: No