Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Research, Demonstrations and Evaluations (93.779)
Program
93.779 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Research, Demonstrations and Evaluations
Federal Agency
Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Office: Centers For Medicare And Medicaid Services
Authorization
Social Security Act, Title XI, Sections 1110 and 1115; 42 U.S.C. 1310 and 1315(a); Title XVIII, Section 1875; 42 U.S.C. 1395 and 42 U.S.C. 1881 (f); Section 402, Public Law 90-248, as amended; Section 222, Public Law 92-603; Small Business Innovation Development Act of 1982; Public Law 97-219, as amended; Small Business Innovation Research Program Extension, Public Law 99-443.
Program Number
93.779
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To support analyses, experiments, demonstrations and pilot projects in efforts to resolve major health care financing issues and to develop innovative methods for the administration of Medicare and Medicaid. These grants are awarded are in the form of research grants and cooperative agreements; Hispanic health services grants; historically black colleges and university grants. For fiscal years 2008 and 2009, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has identified a number of areas where specific information or experience is necessary to improve program effectiveness or guide decisions anticipated in the near future. These priority areas for CMS' discretionary contracts, cooperative agreements and grants include: (1) protecting and empowering specific populations; (2) pay for performance for multiple provider settings; (3) understanding health differences and disparities--closing the gaps; (4) preventing disease, illness, and injury; (5) agency-specific priorities.
Types of Assistance
PROJECT GRANTS
Uses and Use Restrictions
Under all authorizations, all applications must meet standards of excellence in research or evaluation design. Funds may not be used for construction or renovation of buildings. Funds authorized by Section 1115 of the Social Security Act are limited to State agencies administering the Medicaid program.
The research issues and/or hypotheses identified by a project should be clearly stated and realistic and should reflect the issues of interest to CMS and, where appropriate, HHS, Federal Government, and the broader health services research community.
The research design should clearly identify the measures that will be collected and analyzed to address the issues and/or hypotheses. These proposed measures should reflect concepts and variables that are consistent with the stated issues and hypotheses.
The research design should also address the reliability of measures – i.e., a measurement should not change when the concept being measured remains constant in value. A common reliability concern is the level of inter-rater reliability of an instrument, determined by the extent to which two or more persons measuring the same characteristic would assign the same score.
The research design should address the validity of proposed measures – i.e., the extent to which differences in scores on variable or the measuring instrument represent true differences in the characteristic we are trying to measure, rather than constant or random errors or the influence of other factors.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Grants or cooperative agreements may be made to private, or public agencies or organizations, including State agencies that administer the Medicaid program. Private profit organizations may apply. For the Small Business Innovation Research Grant Program, only for-profit organizations may apply. Awards cannot be made directly to individuals.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Contributing retirees or specially entitled beneficiaries, the disabled or those with end stage renal disease (for Medicare) the aged, and families with children and youth (for Medicaid).
Credentials/Documentation
Applicants should present written evidence of other agencies' willingness to cooperate when the project involves collaborative efforts or the utilization of non-CMS facilities or services. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-102 for State and local governments. The standard forms, as furnished by DHHS and required by OMB Circular No. A-102, must be used. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
CMS research and demonstration projects are solicited by publication in grants.gov as well. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Application forms are submitted to the Acquisition and Grants Group, CMS, 2-21-15 Central Building, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular Nos. A-102 and A-110. A letter of intent to file an application is necessary 30 days prior to the closing date of each solicitation cycle.
Award Procedure
Official notice of approved applications is made through issuance of a Notice of Cooperative Agreement or Grant Award.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Range from 150 to 180 days.
Appeals
No formal appeals procedures. If an application is disapproved, the reasons for disapproval will be fully stated. Applicants are free to resubmit applications with attention to the changes suggested by the reasons for disapproval. In the case of solicited proposals, extensions may be allowed to prepare revisions which clarify various aspects of projects.
Renewals
Extensions and continuations of projects are available if formally applied for and approved. If a grant/cooperative agreement application is recommended for approval for 2 or more years, the awardee must annually submit a formal request for continuation accompanied by a progress report which will be evaluated prior to a recommendation of continuation.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
This program has no statutory formula.
This program has no matching requirements. Awardees are required to share in the cost of projects. Normally, the minimum cost-sharing requirement is 5 percent of total project costs. This program has no statutory formula, except in Section 1115 projects, where the statutory formula is the same as that established for the Medicaid Program, both administrative and operational.
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This program does not have MOE requirements.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Grants/cooperative agreements are generally funded on a 12-month basis, with support beyond the first year contingent upon acceptable evidence of satisfactory progress, continuing program relevance, and availability of funds. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
No program reports are required. No cash reports are required. Reports of progress and expenditures are required on all projects. Comprehensive final reports are due no later than 90 days after termination of projects. Reports of progress and expenditures are required on all projects. Comprehensive final reports are due no later than 90 days after termination of projects. No performance monitoring is required.
Audits
This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-133. All fiscal transactions identifiable to Federal financial assistance are subject to audit by DHHS audit agency.
Records
Proper accounting records, identifiable by project number and including all receipts and expenditures, must be maintained for 3 years. Subsequent to audit, they must be maintained until all questions are resolved.
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2008: There were 23 new cooperative agreements/grants funded and 17 new contracts funded in fiscal year 2008. Fiscal Year 2009: In fiscal year 2009, it is estimated that there will be 6 new grants/cooperative agreements and 6 new contracts. Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available
Financial Information
Account Identification
75-0511-0-1-550.
Obligations
(Cooperative Agreements) FY 08 $31,301,000; FY 09 est $30,192,000; FY 10 est $56,978,000
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$25,000 to $1,000,000; $235,000.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Grants Administration policies (45 CFR 74 and 92) and application kits may be obtained from the Office of Acquisition and Grants Management, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Room C2-21-15, Central Building, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.
Related Programs
93.773 Medicare_Hospital Insurance; 93.774 Medicare_Supplementary Medical Insurance; 93.778 Medical Assistance Program
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
See Regional Agency Offices. Contact the appropriate CMS Regional Administrator. (See Appendix IV for Regional Offices.).
Headquarters Office
Timothy Love 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244 Email: timothy.love@cms.hhs.gov Phone: 410-786-0948
Web Site Address
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/contracts/.
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2008: Examples of funded projects in fiscal year 2008 include: (1) Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey; (2) Chronic Condition Warehouse; (3) Evaluation of Medicare Management Performance; (4) Evaluation of Electronic Health Records; (5) Evaluation of Senior Risk Reduction Demonstration; (6) Grants to Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Hispanic Health Services Research Programs; and (7) Real Choice Systems Change Grants. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
The review process for grants/cooperative agreements consists of initially screening applications for completeness and relevancy to CMS priority areas. If the application is not relevant to CMS priority areas, it will be returned to the applicant. If accepted as submitted it will be reviewed and evaluated. The review will be conducted by a panel of not less than three experts. CMS Project Officer will coordinate the panel's review, but will not vote. This individual will also prepare the panel's recommendation to the Director, Office of Research, Development, and Information (ORDI). The panel's recommendations will contain numerical ratings, rankings of applications, and a written assessment of each application. The recommendations will be based on published criteria as stated in the Federal Register. The review process for applications is also stated in the Federal Register Announcement.
