The Department of Health and Human Services’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is offering $14 million in grants to support research to build a scientific evidence base for effective public reporting.
In its request for applications, AHRQ noted that its purpose in offering these grants is based on a number of reports indicating that consumers do not use public reports on healthcare not because they aren’t interested but because they find them a source of irrelevant content and poor design.
AHRQ’s grants will support research that will help the healthcare system develop in such a way that consumers will gain access to easily understandable and accessible healthcare reports based on measures of quality and use.
The agency plans on using $14 million between fiscal year 2012 and 2014 to fund up to 25 applications. It is anticipated that funds will be distributed as $5 million in 2012 and 2013 and $4 million in 2014.
A registration process is necessary before application submission. The AHRQ suggests that the registration process begin at least four weeks prior to grant submission date. Applications are due March 28.
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