Military Health System Research MHSR
22-DHA-MHSR
Grants.gov   https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=330852
     Deadline for receipt of Letter of Intent    March 2, 2021  

The MHSR seeks studies on factors that affect the access, economics/cost, quality, variation and outcomes of military health care delivery. This includes how policies, social factors, financing systems, organizational structures and processes, health technologies, and behaviors influence the military health care delivery to DoD beneficiaries – i.e., individual service members, families, communities, and populations.

MILITARY HEALTH SYSTEM RESEARCH PRIORITY AREAS

• Health System Reform   -   Research that investigates the impact of the significant changes in policy or structure of the MHS. For example, the impact of consolidation under a single management structure, on health care utilization, quality, cost, health outcomes, manpower/staffing, health care readiness, or graduate medical, dental, and health education; potential comparisons to similar activities within the private sector. The impact of policy changes to the TRICARE benefit structure on utilization and cost that includes the introduction of co-pays and deductibles and expansion of benefits; comparisons between direct and purchase care and across the continuum to the VA.
   
• Economics and Cost   -   Research about the factors that shape healthcare in the MHS, drive demand and utilization, as well as influence on cost in either TRICARE direct or purchased care systems. Research that delineates value-based care within the MHS in both purchased and direct care; pre and post intervention studies looking at the difference in the structure of the TRICARE contract and the impact on patient care.
   
• Variation   -   Studies that examine the market, facility, or Service differences in health care. The factors that influence unwarranted variation or differences in quality, utilization, cost, and the implications to the health of the populations in the MHS.
   
• Outcomes  -   Research that identifies and measures the relationship between treatments or interventions delivered, and the improvements in health care delivery in geographic markets or sub-population levels of the MHS with comparisons to private sector efforts. Health outcomes research incorporates clinical outcomes, financial impact, patient health, and quality of life; measurement of indicators that predict results important to patients and patient experience.
   
• Quality   -   Research which examines the degree to which 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 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-populations in the MHS.
   
• Health Readiness   -   Studies of the burden of disease and associated health and risk factors within the MHS populations and the potential impact to force readiness. 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, potential comparisons to private sector in similar markets.