Health Care Financing Grants

Coverage Ideas From the Field

Deadline: Dec 2, 2008

Program Area:
Coverage

Purpose:
The Coverage Team at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is accepting proposals on a broad range of applicant-initiated projects related to national health reform. Up to $2 million will be allocated to support grants of up to $400,000 each. The grant period will begin May 2009 and extend for up to two years.

RWJF is committed to working to ensure that every American has stable, affordable health care coverage. Forty-six million Americans, including 9 million children, are uninsured, and millions more are at risk of losing health care coverage. Moreover, Americans, whether insured or not, are suffering from greater financial distress from the burden of rising health care costs. RWJF is encouraged, however, about the nation's renewed interest in health care reform.

This call for proposals will fund projects that will increase the likelihood that the nation's health care debate will lead to solutions and build momentum to drive federal policy-makers to act. In order for the debate to be successful, there are critical issues that need to be addressed, including a better understanding of how to design, implement, administer and sustain policies to expand health care coverage. We want to hear what ideas you and your organization may have to address and support efforts related to national health care reform.

Projects must be relevant to federal health care reform and may include:

evaluations of timely policy changes;
research and policy analyses that can advance the debate and lead to solutions;
development and testing of new tools, models and policies to expand health insurance coverage;
coalition building and convening; and
strategic communications to disseminate policy ideas.
This solicitation involves a two-step process: (1) submission of an abbreviated brief proposal; and, if selected, (2) submission of a full proposal.

Program Information:

How To Apply:
*Please read the Program Details before applying.

Eligibility & Selection Criteria:

Eligibility criteria include the following:

Preference will be given to applicants that are either public entities or nonprofit organizations that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Applicant organizations must be based in the United States or its territories at the time of application.
Several factors will be taken into consideration in reviewing the brief proposals. This includes the degree to which the project:

furthers the goal to ensure stable and affordable health care coverage for all Americans;
is relevant and timely;
makes a unique contribution to the field; and
is feasible and sustainable.

For the full proposal, the following will also be taken into consideration:

Clarity of project goals, hypotheses, methods and outcomes.
Evidence of access to needed data and populations.
Documentation of experience, qualifications and time commitment of the investigator(s) and key project staff.
Appropriateness of proposed budget and feasibility of project timeline.
Description of a plan for prompt dissemination of research findings to policy-makers and other relevant stakeholders.
Proposals will be reviewed by RWJF staff and, in some cases, external reviewers who will be chosen based on their experience in the area on which the proposal focuses. All funding decisions will be made by RWJF. RWJF does not provide individual critiques for proposals submitted.

Key Dates:
December 2, 2008 (3 p.m. ET)—Deadline for receipt of brief proposals.
Mid-December 2008—Select applicants invited to submit a full proposal.
February 3, 2009 (3 p.m. ET)—Deadline for receipt of full proposals.
May 1, 2009—Start of grants.

Total Award:

Grants of up to $400,000 each may be requested.
Up to $2 million will be available for this solicitation.
Grants may last up to two years in duration.

Contact:
Coverage Ideas From the Field
coverageideas@rwjf.org

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellows
2009-2010 Call for Applications

Deadline:

Nov 14, 2008

Program Area:

Building Human Capital

Purpose:

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellows program provides the nation's most comprehensive experience at the nexus of health science, policy and politics in Washington D.C. The fellowship is an outstanding opportunity for exceptional midcareer health professionals and behavioral and social scientists with an interest in health and health care policy. Fellows experience and participate in the policy process at the federal level and use that leadership experience to improve health, health care and health policy.

How To Apply:

* This program accepts paper applications only.

Eligibility & Selection Criteria:

Exceptional candidates from academic faculties and nonprofit health care organizations are encouraged to apply. Applicants may have backgrounds in the following disciplines: allied health professions; biomedical sciences; dentistry; economics or other social sciences; health services organization and administration; medicine; nursing; public health; or social and behavioral health. Beginning in 2008, applicants will be able to select whether to apply from a sponsoring institution or as an individual. Track 1 applicants will maintain their affiliation with their originating academic institution or nonprofit health care organization. Track 2 applicants will have their fellowship stipend administered by the Institute of Medicine (IOM).

RWJF is committed to programs that embrace racial, ethnic and gender diversity, and encourages applications from candidates who come from groups that historically have been underrepresented. Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or its territories at the time of application.

Members of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellows Advisory Board will assess each applicant, based on the following criteria:

* Professional achievements.
* Potential for leadership in health policy.
* Potential for future growth and career advancement.
* Interpersonal and communication skills.
* Individual plans for incorporating the fellowship experience into specific career goals.

The Advisory Board will select semifinalists from the applicants and interview them in Washington, D.C. Applicants will be notified of their status in mid-January 2009. Interviews for the select group will take place in mid-February 2009. Those applicants who are selected for interviews will receive details about the remainder of the process upon invitation.

Key Dates:

*November 14, 2008—Deadline for receipt of applications.
*January 8, 2009—Selection of semifinalists.
*February 18, 2009—Board interviews of semifinalists and announcement of selections.

Total Award:

Up to 10 grants of up to $165,000 each will be made in 2009. Each fellow will receive up to $94,000 for the Washington stay (September 1, 2009 through August 31, 2010) in salary plus fringe benefits or fellowship stipend. Fellows will receive an additional allowance for relocation subject to limitations provided in detail on the program’s Web site.

Contact:

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellows
mmichnich@nas.edu
Office: (202) 334-1506
http://www.healthpolicyfellows.org

EMF Health Policy Research Grant - $50,000
Description: Between $25,000 and $50,000 for research projects in health policy or health services research topics. Applicants may apply for up to $50,000 of the funds, for a one- or two-year period. The grants are awarded to researchers in the health policy or health services area, who have the experience to conduct research on critical health policy issues in emergency medicine.

Application Deadline: December 22, 2008

The Emergency Medicine Foundation endeavors to promote and to provide improved education and research in the field of emergency medicine in order to improve the availability and quality of emergency medical treatment. One of our missions is to support and promote the delivery of quality emergency care by securing funding for health policy projects that examine dynamic societal issues related to emergency medical care.

RESEARCH TOPICS
While any proposal relating to health policy or health services topics will be considered, special consideration will be given to proposals in the following areas of health policy/services research:
1. Outcomes measurement tools for emergency care
2. Effects of health insurance on emergency department access and care
3. Cost-effective and patient-centered treatment plans
4. Role of clinical guidelines or policies on emergency department care
5. Quality of care

ELIGIBILITY
The principal investigator is recognized as an accomplished investigator in the area of study proposed, and must have proven ability to pursue independent research as evidenced by original research publications in peer-reviewed journals or funding from extramural sources. The principal investigator must have a primary faculty appointment in Emergency Medicine. The principal investigator will make all arrangements for conduct of the proposed research projects, and assumes responsibility for conducting the research projects and supervising the work of all associate investigators.

EMF Health Policy Research Grant Program
Emergency Medicine Foundation
1125 Executive Circle
Irving TX 75038-2522

Junior Investigator Research Grant
Sponsored by the ASHP Foundation
Application Available: June 1, 2008
Application Deadline: February 16, 2009

Description
The Junior Investigator Research Grant Program supports health services research in medication use that is conducted by pharmacist junior investigators. Health services research affects a wide range of medication-use topics including patient education; patient outcomes and effectiveness of medication therapy; health care quality; medication use in minority, elderly and other special populations; medication costs and financing; information for health care policymakers; and access to medications. A secondary goal of the program is to develop and strengthen the skills of newer pharmacist investigators while fostering development of mentoring relationships with more experienced senior investigators.

Applications for this research grant program should emphasize:

1) Project objectives that address health services research related to medication use;
2) prudent use of grant funds;
3) a sound research methodology that supports the project objectives;
4) mentoring activities between a senior investigator/advisor and the junior investigator;
5) interdisciplinary collaboration;
6) the potential for projects to be replicated in other health care facilities; and
7) the impact that the results of the project will have on medication use.
Preference will be given to research projects with the potential to yield strong scientific evidence that can be applied to practice.

Eligibility Criteria
The proposed research must involve health services research in medication use that is conducted by a pharmacist junior investigator. The principal investigator must be a new researcher within 5 years of completion of his/her terminal degree or postgraduate training or have professional experience greater than 5 years and no more than two externally funded research projects as a principal investigator.

The principal investigator must be a licensed pharmacist and multidisciplinary research teams are encouraged. Also, the principal investigator must have a senior investigator participate on the research team as a mentor/advisor. In the application process and grant progress reports, evidence must be included regarding the support and involvement of the senior investigator.

The proposed study must be submitted to an institutional review board (IRB) for approval. Evidence of IRB approval must be provided to the ASHP Research and Education Foundation upon acceptance of the grant award. Grant funds will not be disbursed until evidence of IRB approval has been received.

Funding Information
Two $18,000 grants will be awarded. Grants are awarded to junior investigators to provide funding for specific health services research related to medication use and are not intended for long-term support of research programs.

One-third of the total grant will be provided with the notice of the award. One-third will be provided following receipt of a written progress report submitted at the midpoint of the timeline for study completion. The remaining one-third will be provided upon receipt of a final report that is due within 60 days of project completion.

Application Process
Pharmacists interested in applying for funding should refer to the request for proposals and application instructions for full eligibility requirements and application procedures. Please check the Programs Calendar periodically for information about future offerings.

Selection Criteria
Grant applications will be judged by a selection panel using the following criteria:

• Objectives-25 points
• Rationale-10 points
• Significance-15 points
• Study Methods-25 points
• Project Scope and Timeline-10 points
• Personnel and Facilities-15 points

Deadlines
Deadline: February 16, 2009

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Research and Education Foundation
7272 Wisconsin Avenue
Bethesda, Maryland 20814
Phone: (301) 664-8612
Fax: (301) 634-5712
E-mail: foundation@ashp.org
Web site: www.ashpfoundation.org

Research Scholar Grants in Cancer Control: Health Services and Health Policy Research

Support investigator-initiated research projects in health services and health policy outcomes research. Awards are for up to four years and for up to $200,000 per year (direct costs), plus 20% allowable indirect costs.


Application Deadline: April 1 and October 15

Note: grant application materials become available January 1 and July 1

Program Area:

Health Insurance Coverage , Quality/Equality

Purpose:

This program supports policy analysis, research, evaluation and demonstration projects that provide policy leaders timely information on health care policy and financing issues. This Call for Proposals is intended to support projects that: 1) examine significant issues and interventions related to health care financing and organization and their effects on health care costs, quality and access; and 2) explore or test major new ways to finance and organize health care that have the potential to improve access to more affordable and higher quality health services.

Eligibility & Selection Criteria:

Researchers, as well as practitioners and public and private policy-makers working with researchers, are eligible to apply. Projects may be initiated from within many disciplines, including health services research, economics, sociology, political science, public policy, public health, public administration, law and business administration. Multi-disciplinary teams and researchers who are just beginning their careers—perhaps teaming with a more senior researcher to develop the analytic approach—are especially encouraged to apply.

Proposals will be assessed using the following criteria:

*
Policy significance of the health care financing policy or issue being assessed or tested.
*
Uniqueness of the project.
*
Quality and availability of data to be used and the strength of the proposed methodology.
*
Applicant’s experience and qualifications and the time commitment of key project staff members who have the skills and experience to perform the various operations and analytic tasks required.
*
Special consideration will be given to project teams evidencing collaboration among researchers and policy-makers, health plan officials, purchasers, or providers, whether in the private or public sectors.

Other criteria, specific to individual proposals, may be considered at the discretion of reviewers.

Preference will be given to applicants that are public agencies or are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and are not private foundations as defined under Section 509(a).

Key Dates:

Grants are awarded on a rolling basis; proposals may be submitted at any time.