FY 2011 RFA Grant Application Information: PBHCI HIT

FY 2011 Grant Request for Applications (RFA)

Program Supplement to the Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration Grants for Health Information Technology (HIT) Adoption in the Context of Integrated Care (Short Title: PBHCI HIT)

Initial Announcement

Request for Applications (RFA) No. SM-11-012
Posting on Grants.gov: May 4, 2011
Original Receipt date: June 20, 2011
Announcement Type: Initial

Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) No.: 93.243

Key Dates

Application Deadline	Applications are due by June 20, 2011
Intergovernmental Review (E.O. 12372)	Applicants must comply with E.O. 12372 if their State(s) participates. Review process recommendations from the State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) are due no later than 60 days after application deadline.
Public Health System Impact Statement(PHSIS) / Single State Agency Coordination	Applicants must send the PHSIS to appropriate State and local health agencies by application deadline. Comments from Single State Agency are due no later than 60 days after application deadline.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announces the availability of funds to expand and enhance grant activities funded under the Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration (PBHCI) grant announcement. The purpose of this one-year supplemental award is to expand the use of interoperable electronic health records to increase the grantees’ abilities to quickly identify both the behavioral health and primary care needs of their patients. It supports the grantees’ provision of high quality clinical services that respond to the complete health care needs of their patients. As a part of the Draft National Prevention Strategy, it paves the way for the delivery of prevention services that link primary care and behavioral health needs, and allows the timely tracking of outcomes. The exchange of health information between PBHCI behavioral health providers and physical health providers, and the documenting and tracking of preventive health efforts across both settings, will improve the overall health of patients.

This supplement supports the PBHCI program for improving the physical health status of people with serious mental illnesses and substance abuse and co-occurring disorders. It facilitates the integration of primary care services with the care delivered in publicly funded community mental health and other community-based behavioral health settings. HHS’s expectation is that individuals with serious mental illnesses and substance abuse problems will show improvement in their overall health status through a coordinated approach to prevention and treatment.

In the past, the specialty behavioral health system has often operated independently from the broader health system and differed in the type and scope of information technology used. Through this initiative, SAMHSA will work to increase the use of interoperable, certified electronic health record systems so that Americans with behavioral health conditions can benefit from the advantages afforded by the existence of an integrated health record.

This supplement supports SAMHSA Strategic Initiative #5: Health Reform. Additionally, the supplement supports SAMHSA Strategic Initiative #6: Health Information Technology, by increasing the use of interoperable electronic health records.

PBHCI HIT grants are authorized under Section 520A of the Public Health Service Act, as amended. This announcement addresses Health People Mental Health and Mental Disorders Topic Area HP 2020-MHMD and/or Substance Abuse Topic Area HP 2020-SA.

Eligibility

Eligibility for this funding opportunity is limited to current PBHCI grantees. SAMHSA believes that the most effective way to accomplish the goals of this one-year supplemental program is to limit eligibility to current PBHCI grantees since they have the infrastructure in place to quickly and effectively initiate the activities required.

Since supplemental funding is for one-year, it is critical that the applicant be able to quickly and effectively initiate the activities required by the cooperative agreement.

Award Information

Funding Mechanism:	Cooperative Agreement
Anticipated Total Available Funding:	Up to $11.2 million
Anticipated Number of Awards:	Up to 56
Anticipated Award Amount:	Approximately $200,000 for one year
Length of Project Period:	One Year

It is expected that up to $11,200,000 will be available to fund up to 56 awards in FY 2011. Awards are expected to be approximately $200,000 in total costs (direct and indirect) for up to 1 year. Proposed budgets cannot exceed the allowable amount.

Funding estimates for this program are based on an annualized Continuing Resolution (CR) for FY 2011 and subject to finalizing the FY 2011 operating plan. Funding is dependent upon the availability of resources.

Contact Information

For questions regarding program issues, contact the designated GPO for your State at the address below:

Trina Dutta, MPP, MPH
Public Health Analyst
Center for Mental Health Services
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
1 Choke Cherry Road, Room 6-1076
Rockville, MD 20857
(240) 276-1944
Trina.Dutta@samhsa.hhs.gov

For questions on grants management issues, contact:

Gwendolyn Simpson
Office of Program Services, Division of Grants Management
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
1 Choke Cherry Road
Room 7-1085
Rockville, Maryland 20857
(240) 276-1408
gwendolyn.simpson@samhsa.hhs.gov