AHRQ's Healthcare Extension Service: State-Based Solutions to Healthcare Improvement
Applications Currently Being Reviewed for Healthcare Extension Cooperatives, National Coordinating Center, and National Evaluation Center
Applications have closed and are currently being reviewed for applicants seeking to join AHRQ’s recently launched Healthcare Extension Service: State-based Solutions for Healthcare Improvement, which includes:
Up to 15 grants for state-based Healthcare Extension Cooperatives will be funded for up to $25 million each over 5 years to accelerate the dissemination and implementation of patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR) evidence into healthcare delivery. The Coordinating Center will be funded up to $14.25 million over 5 years to provide technical assistance, learning networks, and communication and dissemination guidance to the Cooperatives. The Evaluation Center will be funded up to $14.8 million over 5 years to assess program implementation and impact.
The goal of AHRQ's Healthcare Extension Service is to accelerate the dissemination and implementation of patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR) evidence into healthcare delivery. PCOR compares the impact of two or more preventive, diagnostic, treatment, or healthcare delivery approaches on health outcomes, including those that are meaningful to patients. PCOR findings can help patients and other healthcare stakeholders, such as caregivers, clinicians, insurers, and policy makers, make better-informed decisions about their health and healthcare options.
The Healthcare Extension Service program is designed to enhance healthcare delivery through improvements in healthcare policy, payment systems, and clinical practice, and to reduce healthcare disparities especially among people who receive Medicaid, are uninsured, or are medically underserved. This 5-year program will include three components: Healthcare Extension Cooperatives, a National Coordinating Center, and a National Evaluation Center. The project’s overall goal is to significantly reduce the time span between evidence generation and its use in healthcare delivery.
Healthcare Extension Cooperatives
The Healthcare Extension Cooperatives' activities will be aimed at supporting states' efforts to improve healthcare policy, align payment incentives, and advance clinical practice, and to reduce healthcare disparities, especially among people who receive Medicaid, are uninsured, or are medically underserved. Their initial focus will be aimed at advancing behavioral healthcare.
National Coordinating Center
The National Coordinating Center will provide individual Healthcare Extension Cooperatives with a wide range of support, resources, and guidance, and will convene Cooperatives to facilitate mutual learning in real time.
National Evaluation Center
An independent National Evaluation Center will provide a detailed assessment of Healthcare Extension Cooperatives’ services, assess the impact and equity of these models, and identify factors associated with successes, as well as barriers to improvement.
These projects will build on AHRQ’s prior Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund investments and leverage AHRQ’s expertise in supporting healthcare transformation and learning health systems. More information is available about PCOR at AHRQ and about AHRQ’s strategic framework for the Agency's PCOR Trust Fund investments.
Access general information about AHRQ funding and grants, including research policies. Select to access more information about the grant application process.
Please direct all inquiries to AHRQ_HES@ahrq.hhs.gov.
