Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Description

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is announcing the availability of funds under its grant program to assist Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in conducting health services research in Fiscal Year 2008. This announcement seeks competitive applications for small applied research projects that relate to identifying and evaluating solutions for eliminating health disparities among the African American population. Additionally, the project should enhance the capacity of HBCUs to successfully compete for CMS research and program funds in the future. HBCUs are expected to become involved in the design, implementation, and operation of research projects that address health care issues such as financing, delivery, access, quality, and barriers affecting the African American community. CMS is seeking these types of research projects because of its belief that HBCUs play a pivotal role in finding solutions to the many difficult health issues that have a significant impact on the health of African Americans. The unique expertise, knowledge, reputation, and sensitivity that HBCU investigators can bring to the design, implementation, and operation of such research will be a key to advancing the national, state and local agenda of eliminating health disparities. The President's Board of Advisors on HBCUs has issued directives to increase the support of HBCUs through various mechanisms and to develop an infrastructure in these educational institutions. This grant program is consistent with President George Bush's Executive Order 13256, signed on February 12, 2002 directing executive departments and agencies to increase the ability of HBCUs to participate in federally sponsored programs. The purpose is "to strengthen the capacity of HBCUs to provide the highest quality education and to increase opportunities for these institutions to participate in and benefit from Federal programs???€??." Federal agencies are directed to establish funding on an annual basis to be awarded to HBCUs through grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements. The head of each department or agency is expected to formulate an annual plan that establishes clear goals for how the department or agency intends to increase the capacity of HBCUs to compete for its funding programs. CMS's HBCU Health Services Research Grant Program complies with Executive Order 13256. This program is one strategy to increase the participation, promotion, and professional development of HBCU investigators in health services research.

Who can apply

• Others

Contact

Louise Amburgey <br/>Louise.Amburgey@cms.hhs.gov <br/>
Louise.Amburgey@cms.hhs.gov