The Department of Health and Human Services recently announced the Health Care Innovation Challenge from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center,   This new initiative is designed to test creative ways to deliver high quality medical care and reduce costs across the country.   www.innovations.cms.gov/initiatives/innovation-challenge/index.html.

The Challenge will award up to $1 billion in total grants to applicants who can rapidly implement the most compelling new ideas to deliver better health, improved care and lower costs to people enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP, particularly those with the highest health care needs.  Awards will range from approximately $1 million to $30 million for a three-year period.  Applicants may be providers, payers, local government, public-private partnerships, and multi-payer collaboratives.

For leaders in preconception health, women's health, and MCH, this is an opportunity to focus on vulnerable populations.  In particular, strategies to improve the delivery of preconception or interconception care to women enrolled in Medicaid would be idea for this challenge.  Collaborative projects are encouraged.

Upcoming Webinar

WHAT: Webinar: Health Care Innovation Challenge: Project Design Discussion

WHEN: Tuesday, December 6, 2011 at 2:00pm - 3:45pm (EST)

WEBCAST: http://www.visualwebcaster.com/event.asp?id=83923  

Participants wishing to listen to audio must dial 877-261-8937 and enter code 31613148#A recording will be available following the webinar.

Submitting Applications

Potential applicants must submit a letter of intent (LOI) by December 19, 2011 in order to be eligible for a funding award. Please refer to the FOA for more information on the LOI process. When you're ready, click here to submit your LOI.

All applications must be submitted electronically through www.grants.gov. Applicants are strongly encouraged to use the review criteria information provided in the "Application Review Information" section in the funding opportunity announcement (FOA).

Important Dates

• Webinar: November 17, 2011 (get archives http://www.innovations.cms.gov/documents/pdf/HC Innovation Slides- Webinar Overview_Compliant.pdf ) 
• Webinar Tuesday, December 6th, 2011 at 2pm ET to provide guidance on the application process with specific attention towards project proposal design
• Webinar December 13, 2011 which will delve deeper into the application process with special focus on quality measurement and financial plans
• Letter of Intent: December 19, 2011
• Applications are due, January 27, 2012
• Anticipated Award Date: March 30, 2012

Frequently Asked Questions

After announcing the Health Care Innovation Challenge, Innovation Center staff received thousands of comments and questions about. In order to manage the large volume of inquiries and to make sure that everyone has access to responses, we have posted responses to some of the most Frequently Asked Questions on the Innovation Challenge home page. http://innovations.cms.gov/initiatives/innovation-challenge/faq.html   

Potential applicants are highly encouraged to check the Innovation Challenge website often to receive the most timely information.  You can continue to submit additional questions to InnovationChallenge@cms.hhs.gov