PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:
To support analyses, experiments, demonstrations and pilot projects in efforts to resolve major health care financing issues and to develop innovative methods for the administration of Medicare and Medicaid. These awards are in the form of research grants and cooperative agreements; small business grants; dissertation fellowship grants; Hispanic health services grants; historical black colleges and university grants. For fiscal years 2002 and 2003, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service (CMS) has identified a number of areas where specific information or experience is necessary to improve program effectiveness or guide decisions anticipated in the near future. These priority areas for CMS's discretionary contracts, cooperative agreements or grants are as follows: (1) Monitoring and evaluating CMS's programs; (2) improving managed care payment and delivery; (3) improving fee-for-service payment and delivery; (4) future trends influencing our programs; (5) strengthening medicaid (SCHIP), and State programs; (6) meeting the needs of vulnerable populations; (7)outcomes, quality, and performance; and (8)building research capacity.

ELIGIBLE FUNCTIONAL CATEGORIES:
1. HEALTH;
- Health Research - General;
2. INCOME SECURITY AND SOCIAL SERVICES;
- Research, Demonstration;

WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM THIS PROGRAM:
- Infant (0-5);
- Child (6-15);
- Youth (16-21);
- Senior Citizen (60+);
- Welfare Recipient;
- Low Income;

WHO CAN APPLY:
- State (includes District of Columbia, public institutions of higher education and hospitals);
- Public non-profit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals);
- Private non-profit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals);
- Quasi-public non-profit institution/organization;
- Other private institutions/organizations;