The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Mar. 5 announced a Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA, P.L. 114-10) Funding Opportunity: Measure Development for the Quality Payment Program available on Grants.gov.
CMS expects to issue 10 awards capped at $2 million per year for up to three years for an individual award, with $30 million total available in federal funds (subject to the availability of funds). Electronic applications are due May 2 and CMS intends issue of notices of award on Aug. 3. The estimated award start is Aug. 6, 2018 and, if awarded for the maximum three years, would end August 5, 2021.
Awards will be made to entities to develop, improve, update, or expand quality measures for use in the Quality Payment Program (QPP). Specifically, CMS is seeking assistance to expand the QPP quality measure portfolio with a focus on clinical and patient perspectives and minimizing burden for clinicians. CMS will prioritize the development of outcome measures, including patient reported outcome and functional status measures, and patient experience measures and measures of appropriate use of services.
This funding opportunity is only open to entities external to both CMS and other federal agencies, and eligible entities include, but are not limited to: clinical specialty societies, clinical professional organizations, patient advocacy organizations, educational institutions, independent research organizations, and health systems.