DOD HT9425-25-MHSRP: 2024Military Health System Research Program (MHSRP)

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*An eligible applicant may submit up to two LOIs for consideration, but only one (1) LOI may be selected.

Deadlines:

• Required Letter of Intent: May 28, 2024
• Invited Full Proposal: Sep. 6, 2024

The Military Health System Research Program (MHSRP) provides research grants on topic areas directed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs (OASD (HA)) and the Leadership of the Defense Health Agency (DHA). The intent of MHSR is to foster research capability and capacity that supports the Military Health System (MHS) as a learning health system and to mature as an integrated health system focused on Ready Reliable Care that improves outcomes for patients, staff, and the enterprise.

The MHSRP funds research that examines factors that affect the enterprise in terms of economics/cost, quality, outcomes, variation, policies, and how they impact health readiness. The goal is to identify and characterize the factors that influence the efficiency and effectiveness of MHS care delivery. Knowledge obtained from this research should support evidence-based policy and decision-making at the strategic and front-line levels. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) seeks rigorous collaborative health system research that has the potential to innovate military and civilian health care. The goal is to enhance data-driven evidence that optimizes the MHS delivery of health care and improves the health of beneficiaries. This NOFO is intended to solicit Intramural and Extramural Military Health System Research aligned with DHA priority research areas.

Areas of Interest:

Research must examine the organization, delivery, and financial cost of healthcare, producing evidence that impacts policy and decision-making within the MHS. The research must enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the MHS to be considered for funding. The research aims should address at least one of the Priority Topic Area(s).

a. Economics and Cost: Research on the factors that shape the MHS cost, drive demand and utilization, and influence cost in either TRICARE direct or purchased care systems; issues related to efficiency, effectiveness, value and behavior in the production, and utilization health care in terms of costs, charges, and expenditures; the impact of technologies on care delivery and cost; and the impact of workforce, recruitment, and retention of medical personnel. Research that delineates value-based care within the MHS in both purchased and direct care; pre- and post- studies to evaluate the impact of the structure of the TRICARE contract on patient care.

b. Quality - Research which examines the degree to which health services for individuals and populations are safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable with the outcome of increasing the likelihood of improved health. The impact of standardizing clinical practice through clinical practice guidelines, evidence-based practices, and process improvements, on the health of the population/sub-population.

c. Outcomes - Health outcome research identifies and measures the factors which impact a population of patients at the enterprise, geographic market level, or sub-population levels; examines the system level factors which influence achievement of the Quadruple Aim “better health” in comparison to private sector efforts. Health outcomes research incorporates clinical outcomes, financial impact, patient health, quality of life, and measurement of indicators that predict results important to patients and patient experience.

d. Variation - Studies that examine the factors that influence unwarranted variation or differences in quality, utilization, cost, or outcomes within the MHS and the implications to the enterprise as a system of system of care.

e. Health Readiness - Burden of disease and associated health and risk factors within the MHS populations that effect Active Duty Service Members ability to deploy. Implications of disease burden as an indicator of medical readiness, potential impact to staffing, network utilization, and cost for direct care and/or purchased care.

f. Health System - Research related to the impact of the significant changes in policy or structure of the MHS on health care cost, quality, utilization, health outcomes, manpower/staffing, or health care readiness. Comparisons to between direct and purchased care, or care within the private sector, and includes measurement of the impact of policy changes to the TRICARE benefit structure on utilization and cost.

The proposals must emphasize one of the listed Clinical Priority Areas:
a. Cardiovascular Health
b. Women’s Health
c. Primary Care
d. Specialty Care
e. Sensory Health
f. Dental Care
g. Surgical Care
h. Telehealth
i. Nutritional Care

LOIs and Full Proposals for this funding opportunity may be submitted by investigators, uniformed or civilian staff who work for DoD or non-DoD organizations, as defined below. DHA encourages applications from Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) that include Historically Black Colleges and Universities and others as defined at: https://www.doi.gov/pmb/eeo/doi-minority-serving-institutionsprogram.

a. Extramural Organization: An eligible non-DoD organization. Examples of extramural organizations include academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and other federal government organizations (other than DoD). • Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) are not eligible to directly receive awards under this NOFO. However, teaming arrangements between FFRDCs and eligible organizations are allowed if permitted under the sponsoring agreement between the federal government and the specific FFRDC. • Government agencies within the US: Local, state, and non-DoD federal government agencies are eligible to the extent that proposals do not overlap with their fully-funded internal programs. Such agencies are required to explain how their proposals do not overlap with their internal programs.

b. Intramural DoD Organization: A facility or group of facilities owned, leased, or otherwise used by Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Military Departments, the Defense Agencies, and all other organizational entities within the DoD; to include DoD laboratories, DoD MTFs, and/or DoD activities embedded within a civilian medical center.